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Innovation Excellence
For enterprises pioneering breakthrough products, processes, or business models that reshape markets and create measurable impact at scale.
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Under evaluation · Cycle 2026
CII National Excellence Awards 2026
India's premier recognition for breakthrough innovation, sustainability leadership, and transformative stewardship across industry and civil society.
- Cycle
- 2026
- Format
- Two rounds
- Jury
- Industry leaders
- Closes
- 4 April 2026
About the Awards
A platform for India's most consequential work.
Since its inception, the Confederation of Indian Industry has championed excellence as a national project. The National Excellence Awards, now in its 2026 cycle, recognises the organisations and leaders whose work is reshaping the country — and sets the standard for the decade ahead.
India's premier recognition for breakthrough innovation, sustainability leadership, and transformative stewardship across industry and civil society.
- 01
Rigour
Two rounds of independent evaluation, conflict-of-interest controls, and a mandatory remark on every score. No black boxes.
- 02
Reach
Three categories that span the levers of modern Indian industry — innovation, sustainability, and leadership at scale.
- 03
Recognition
Gold, Silver, and Bronze in every category, with a public ceremony, press announcement, and year-long brand recognition.
The Categories
Three ways to stand for excellence.
Every category is evaluated on its own scoring rubric by an independent panel, and every finalist is invited to the jury round.
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Sustainability Champion
Recognising organisations advancing environmental stewardship, circular economy, and net-zero commitments with verifiable progress.
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Leadership of the Year
Celebrating leaders whose vision and execution have transformed institutions, communities, or entire industries in this cycle.
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How to Apply
A straightforward path to recognition.
Four steps, one account, zero surprises. Every stage is tracked in your dashboard.
Register your organisation
Create your account in minutes. Capture the organisation profile once — it carries across every category you apply to.
Complete the application
Answer the category-specific questions. Save your progress anytime; upload supporting documents in one place.
Submit before the deadline
Review, lock, and submit. You’ll get an immediate confirmation with a permanent reference number.
Evaluation and results
Two rounds of independent evaluation — first by domain evaluators, then by the industry jury. Results are announced publicly.
Cycle 2026
Put your best work forward.
The application takes under an hour once your profile is set up. There is no fee to participate, and every submission receives a fair, documented evaluation.