Guwahati: Axis Bank, the third-largest private sector lender in India by market capitalisation, has been awarded the Rotary CSR Award 2025 for Community Involvement under the 'Mega Enterprise' category for its impactful work in the field of education in conflict-affected regions. The Rotary CSR Award presented by Rotary International District 3131 recognises the bank’s flagship initiative - Axis Dil Se® program, specifically, the Capt. Late N. Kenguruse Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) Centre of Excellence, located in Chieswema, Nagaland, further cements Axis Bank’s position among the top corporates implementing measurable, large-scale, impact-driven CSR programs in India.
The initiative focuses on supporting Centres of Excellence (CoEs) that offer intensive academic coaching, mentoring, and holistic development to high-potential students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The education program, launched in collaboration with the Assam Rifles and the National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), is part of a strategic CSR intervention designed to address the education deficit in India’s remote and underserved Northeast region.
650+ Students Trained
Since its inception in Nagaland, the Chieswema Centre has catered to over 650 students preparing for competitive examinations such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). As of the current academic year, more than 205 students are actively enrolled at the centre. The Centre forms part of a wider network of seven CoEs that Axis Bank supports across the Northeastern states, including facilities in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, and another in Ghaspani, Nagaland.
Axis Bank’s investment in these education centres reflects a long-term commitment to inclusive development through sustained academic interventions. These Centres of Excellence function as residential academies, where students are provided not only with coaching but also with the necessary psychosocial, nutritional, and infrastructural support required to succeed in national-level examinations.
Strategic Collaboration with Armed Forces and Civil Society
The Chieswema Centre is operated under a tripartite collaboration involving Axis Bank, NIEDO, and the Assam Rifles (under the aegis of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command). While Axis Bank serves as the funding and strategic CSR partner, the Assam Rifles facilitates the implementation by providing infrastructure support, including secure residential and classroom facilities. NIEDO, the program’s on-ground implementation partner, oversees student mobilisation, aptitude-based shortlisting, onboarding, curriculum delivery, and continuous mentoring.
“The Axis Dil Se – Capt. N. Kenguruse MVC Centre of Excellence is more than an academic initiative—it represents hope, aspiration, and a pathway to excellence for students from challenging socio-economic environments. We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Rotary International, which validates our approach to driving sustainable change in the education sector,” said Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive and Head – Wholesale Banking Coverage & Sustainability, Axis Bank.
He added that the initiative is a testament to the transformative impact that a public-private-civil partnership model can achieve in India's most remote geographies.
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Launched in 2018 with its first Centre in Ladakh, Axis Dil Se® has evolved into one of the bank’s most significant CSR programs under its "Education" theme. The program is sharply focused on bridging systemic education gaps in India’s far-flung and conflict-affected regions. Today, the initiative spans all seven Northeastern states and extends its presence to tribal and underserved belts in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
By targeting high-potential students who lack access to quality education due to geographical and socio-political barriers, Axis Dil Se® aims to democratize opportunities and ensure greater representation of students from marginal regions in India’s top engineering and medical colleges.
The CSR initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) outlined by the United Nations, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality), and is part of the bank’s broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) agenda.
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