About

The Awards

ABOUT

Shri Pralhad P. Chhabria Awards

Hope Foundation and Research Centre (HFRC, www.hfrcpune.org) in association with the IEEE India Council and Women In Engineering Affinity Group, IEEE Pune Section has instituted the Shri Pralhad P. Chhabria Awards from the year 2017, in memory of Late Shri Pralhad P Chhabria, Founder Chairman of Finolex Group of Companies and Founder President, Hope Foundation and Research Centre. These awards applaud academic and professional achievements of young women for their accomplishments in the areas of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Shri Pralhad P. Chhabria always encouraged and supported education of young women.  He firmly believed that women have the ability to make whatever they get, greater and providing them with good education in turn ensures that they not only share their knowledge and skills with their family; but harness it for the betterment of the community and the nation.

The purpose of  Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards is to celebrate the achievements of young women in the domains of science, engineering and/or technology and motivate them to continue on their path towards the greater good.

The Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards aim to revere knowledge, recognize achievements and social contributions of young women in the domains of Science, Engineering and Technology

  • The mission of these awards is to honour academic & professional achievements and support and grow the “women engineers’ community”.
  • This award is aimed at instilling in young women engineers the confidence that they are equal to, if not better than, young men and deserve every opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities.
  • The intent of this prize is to encourage female students to be courageous to pursue their professional and personal aspirations and not allow gender biases hinder their path to success.
  • The award endeavours to become one of the most prestigious national awards, which aims to nurture strong-willed women science/ engineering/ technology to shape the future of our world.

Purpose

The purpose of  Shri Pralhad P Chhabria Awards is to celebrate the achievements of young women in the domains of science, engineering and/or technology and motivate them to continue on their path towards the greater good.

BEST GRADUATE STUDENT – The first two awards are intended for female students who have successfully completed their bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, or Engineering.  These awards honour a Winner and a Runner-Up for their outstanding academic achievements throughout their undergraduate studies. In addition to maintaining excellent grades, the recipients’ contributions to various areas of research, innovation, their institute, university, and/or community will also be considered.

BEST WOMAN PROFESSIONAL – (EARLY CAREER STAGE)
The next two awards recognize the achievements of young women who have 3–7 years of professional experience and have made significant contributions to research, innovation, creativity, as well as the technological, economic, and/or social development of the community and our nation. These two awards honour a Winner and a Runner-Up for their exceptional work in their respective professional domains and their impactful contributions to their field and society at large.

How to Apply
  • Documents needed before applying.
  • Individuals desirous of being considered for any of the Awards, can either self-nominate or be nominated by another individual
  • The application / nomination will have to be filled online.
  • All queries with regard to the Awards will be handled by the designated point of contact.
Important Dates
  • Application Opens: 01 September 2025 (Monday)
  • Application Closes: 5 November 2025 (Wednesday)
  • Award Ceremony: 12 March 2026 (Thursday)

Point of Contact:

Convener
Hope Foundation and Research Centre,
P-14/1, Rajiv Gandhi InfoTech Park, MIDC Phase – 1
Hinjawadi, Pune – 411057
Phone: +91 20 2293 3441/2/3
Email: info@hfrc-ieeeawards.org
Eligibility

Award Nominee Requirements:

  • The nominee must be a current IEEE member or must have held IEEE membership for at least one continuous year within the previous two years from the year of application. Any lapse in membership will be calculated from the date the application process is announced. For instance, if applications open on June 20, 2023, any lapse in membership will be assessed for one year prior to this date.
  • If the nominee's IEEE membership has lapsed at the time of application, the individual may still apply based on prior membership. However, if shortlisted as a finalist, the nominee will be required to renew their membership.
  • While IEEE Women in Engineering membership is desirable, it is not mandatory.
  • The nominee must have been a resident of India for at least the last two years.

Award No. I & II

This award is open to female students from science, engineering, or technology disciplines who have recently graduated with a B.E., B.Tech., B.Sc., BCA, BCS, B.S., or a similar undergraduate degree from an accredited university or institute in India. Nominees must have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement throughout their education. Originality and innovation in their respective field(s) of work are mandatory criteria for consideration.

Award No. III & IV

This award is open to professional women in science, technology, or engineering who have been actively working for at least 3 to a max of 7 years in India. The nominee should be utilizing her knowledge and skills to contribute to the economic development of the community and/or country. Originality and innovation in their respective field(s) of work are mandatory criteria for consideration.

Note:The jury reserves the right to amend or elevate the eligibility criteria in response to a large number of applications. The jury’s decision will be final.

Application Form