India UK Achievers Honours celebrate successful alumni

To mark the 75^th year of India’s independence, NISAU UK (National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK) and the British Council in India are partnering to recognise and celebrate the work of 75 young achievers who have studied in the UK.

Honours are to be given in five categories covering a range of career paths from business & entrepreneurship, to arts & culture.

Applications are now live and open to both current students and alumni, with the deadline for submissions at 23:59 GMT, 10 November.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the India UK Achievers Honours you must be:

• A current student or alumni of a UK higher education institution
• Aged 49 or below on 15 August 2023
• An Indian citizen at the time you commenced your studies in the UK
• Able to demonstrate excellence in your chosen field

You can either apply yourself or nominate someone else you believe is deserving of this prestigious honour.

What are the categories I can apply to?

The honours are being given in five categories:

• Business & entrepreneurship – Are you a leader or innovator with proof of considerable impact in starting, running or managing businesses?
• Education, science & innovation – Are you a researcher or educator producing ground-breaking work that’s pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and technology?
• Arts, culture, entertainment & sports – Are you able to demonstrate high levels of creativity and showcase achievement, impact and influence in your chosen field?
• Government, politics, law & society – Are you driving forward how democracy and justice are experienced, tackling urgent problems for the good of society and the planet?
• Media & journalism – Are you making a significant contribution in the field of media and journalism, committed to innovation and democratic reporting?

More information about each of these categories can be found on the official website.

What qualities will a successful applicant have?

Successful recipients of the India UK Achievers Honours will be able to give examples of extraordinary achievement and recognition that are aligned with their chosen application category.

Applicants should be innovative, collaborative leaders, able to engage with diverse audiences and champion equality and inclusion through their work. They should also possess a demonstrable desire to use one’s talents to have a transformative impact on society.

What happens if I’m successful?

75 applicants will be selected to be honoured in this first-of-its-kind celebration of the UK’s Indian alumni. The Achievers will be honoured in a gala celebration at the residence of the British High Commissioner to India on 10 December.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their nominations early. If you’d like to learn more about the honours, NISAU UK are holding free informational webinars on 4 November and 7 November. More information about these sessions can be found here.