January 30, 2026: BAIF has taken the lead to implement a unique first of its kind Agrivoltaics Project in the country, with the generous support of HSBC Software Development (India) Pvt. Ltd. at its peri-urban Rural Knowledge Centre – “BAIF Rural Innovation Centre” at Uruli Kanchan, Pune. This Rural Innovation Centre with its focus on green collar employment generation, is also a unique grassroots knowledge campus in the country.

The Agrivoltaics Project with its focus on clean energy production along with crops, was inaugurated by Mr. Vikram Kulkarni, Managing Director and Head of HSBC Technology India, Mr. Swami Bagul, Managing Director HSBC, Ms. Monirupa Shete, Communications Lead, Mr. Rajesh Devi, Director, India Tech Centre, Mr. Vineet Kondejkar, Head of Cybersecurity Programme Delivery, Mr. Ajay Deshpande, Head, FDR IT Pune, Ms. Smita Jamalamadaka, Head, Digital and WCS Technology India, Mr. Nitin Mhaske, Digital Content Manager, Ms. Damini Khaire, AVP, Global Sustainability, HSBC, in the presence of Mr. Gulabsing Girase, Director, Gro Solar, Mr. Kaustubh Apte, Director, Maxwell Solar & Wind Energy, Mr. Anand Tembe, Director, Satara Renewable Energy Systems P. Ltd. and Mr. Abhimanyu Sahu, Chief Operating Officer, Schneider Electric India Foundation, BAIF scientists and project team at Uruli Kanchan. BAIF team led by Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, Dr. Jayant Khadse, Mr. Waman Kulkarni, Dr. Vithal Kauthale, Mr. Sagar Kadao and Mr. Mahesh Lade, shared the objectives of this initiative in alignment with the national goals of renewable energy and enhanced farmer’s income.

In the inaugural address, Dr. Kakade stated that this project, which blends cutting edge scientific technologies with rural wisdom, will showcase live demonstrations of renewable energy solutions and crop cultivation optimising the land use for highest possible returns. He further stated that the project which is the first integrated agrivoltaics demonstration programme in India with 17 agrivoltaics models in place, is a momentous step towards climate-resilient agriculture, decentralised energy, and scalable rural innovation with operations spread over Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka. Field trials across 26 crops are generating robust, multi-season evidence, with crop-wise packages of practices and technical manuals underway. Beyond infrastructure, the project has reached more than 800 farmers, trained 45 rural youth as solar technicians, and shared learnings through multiple national workshops and exposure visits, he concluded.

January 26, 2026: The 77th Republic Day, a day of immense pride for every citizen of India, was observed at the BAIF Head Office in Pune as well as in all the operational states with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm. Starting with the ceremonial Guard of Honour, the national flag was hoisted by Mr. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Group Vice President – Finance and Dr. Prasad Kulkarni, Senior Thematic Programme Executive – Central Monitoring and Vigilance Cell,  in the presence of the BAIF team at the Head Office. While recollecting the contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution, revered nationalists including Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and “Vande Mataram”, the advent of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the tremendous opportunity offered by Rural India and the need for a self-reliant progressive nation were highlighted by Dr. Avinash Deo, Advisor, Mr. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Dr. Prasad Kulkarni and Ms. Sucharita Dhar, Senior Manager, Information and Communication. The children of the support staff also participated in the celebration with enthusiasm.

The patriotism and joy were also evident in the celebration in all the Regions with the staff and their children in enthusiastic attendance. In Nashik, Maharashtra, the flag was hoisted by Dr. Raviraj Jadhav, Regional Director, West; in Jawhar, by Mr. Sudhir Wagle, Joint Regional Director and State Head; in Peint, by Bayjabai Madhukar Shingade, Sarpanch, Dhondmal Gram Panchayat, Peint. In Lachhakadi campus in South Gujarat by Mr. Jitin Sathe, Additional Chief Programme Executive; in Sambalpur, Odisha by Mr. Rakesh Warrier, Regional Director, East in the presence of Mr. Sandip Kakade, State Head, Odisha and Chhattisgarh; in Ranchi, Jharkhand, by Mr. Dharmendra Tiwari, State Head and in Patna, Bihar by Dr. V.K. Singh, State Head. In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh by Mr. V.B. Dyasa, Regional Director, North and in Raniganj, Pratapgarh campus by Mr. V.K. Mishra and the training team. In Tiptur, Karnataka, the flag was hoisted by Ms. Poornima H R, Human Resources Head; at Lakkihalli campus, by Mr. Sree Prakash, Campus In-charge and at Grama Chetana Training Centre, Surashettikoppa by Mr. Somashekar Honnalli, President, Sarvodaya Maha Sangha, Surashettikoppa.

Pan BAIF Celebrations

January 13, 2026: The New India is a Digital India. In rural areas too, digital technologies have gained immense popularity with neo digital entrepreneurs known as “eDosts” riding a new high. Among these digital savvy women, Vandana Chaudhari from Junglepada, Jawhar in Palghar district of Maharashtra has transformed the rural ecosystem with new-age digital and financial services. She is not only earning a steady income and supporting her family as a digital and financial specialist, she has also simplified the lives of the villagers by bringing technology and happiness to their doorsteps while earning respect and admiration.

Her commitment towards the rural community, was acknowledged with the Inclusive Finance Changemaker Award – Individual Category bestowed on her by ACCESS Development Services in partnership with HSBC India and the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India as the Co-Host, at the Global Inclusive Finance Summit 2025 held in New Delhi. Time stood still for this woman hailing from a remote hamlet, when she walked confidently onto the dais to receive the award from Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India in the presence of Mr. Sudipto Saha, Head, Financial Inclusion, ACCESS Development Services, Mr. Hitendra Dave, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC India and Ms. Aloka Majumdar, Managing Director, Global Head of Philanthropy & Head of Sustainability India, HSBC. This moment will be etched in her memory for a long time to come and will serve as a source of immense inspiration for other rural women who are functioning as digital and financial catalysts in remote parts of the country.

BAIF is facilitating and encouraging women like Vandana to become agents of change and power by assuming leadership roles while extending financial and governance-related services to rural society. These eDosts, with their newfound confidence and as custodians of last-mile digital and financial inclusion, are making sure that Rural India inches towards “Digital India”, the flagship programme of the Government and are thereby reducing the formidable gap which exists between rural and urban India.

January 12, 2026: The historical association between knowledge institutions BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune and Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, was once again strengthened with the overarching MoU signed between Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF and Dr. Vitthal Shirke, Director of Research, MPKV, in the presence of Dr. Vilas Kharche, Hon. Vice Chancellor, MPKV at BAIF Central Research Station, Uruli Kanchan, Pune.

The collaboration seeks to advance farmer-centric development programmes in sustainable agriculture, watershed and water resource management, natural resources management, hydrology, renewable energy, irrigation management, carbon neutrality, and structured capacity building initiatives across Maharashtra. The agreement, signed in the presence of senior scientists, Dr. Sachin Nandgude, Head, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, MPKV, Dr. Mahanand Mane, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Pune, Dr. Subhash Bhalekar, Associate Director of Research, Pune, Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, Mr Pramodkumar Takawale, Programme Director, Agricultural Research and other scientists and thematic specialists from BAIF, forged a significant institutional collaboration in research, innovation and capacity building.

Press Release | Pune | India 

BAIF Development Research Foundation, has assumed voluntary membership of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, thereby reaffirming its commitment to ending hunger, poverty, and inequality in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. BAIF recognises that hunger and malnutrition are rooted in structural poverty and rising inequality, and acknowledges that current global efforts are insufficient to meet SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It therefore endorses the Alliance’s mission to promote coordinated, large-scale, and integrated approaches that combine social protection with access to essential services such as food security, nutrition, livelihoods, education, health, and climate resilience.

Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee of BAIF stated that BAIF emphasises the importance of country-owned, inclusive policies and programmes targeting the poorest and most vulnerable populations, particularly in rural and tribal areas. It values the Global Alliance’s policy basket as a guiding framework for evidence-based action and commits to supporting national and local implementation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, technical assistance, and partnerships. BAIF will work collaboratively with Alliance members to strengthen coordination, innovation, and learning to enhance country-level outcomes.

Drawing on its extensive field presence in over 100,000 villages in India, Dr. Kakade expressed readiness to support integrated sustainable community development approaches, climate and shock responsive interventions, and programmes for landless and smallholders. Its actions include expanding nutrition-sensitive agri-horti-forestry and dairy husbandry initiatives, scaling resilient livelihood models to reach 10 million rural families by 2030, developing climate-resilient infrastructure and enabling access to digital entitlements. While these commitments are voluntary and non-binding, BAIF affirms its intent to align its capacities and partnerships to contribute meaningfully to the global fight against hunger and poverty.

December 4, 2025: Under the Circular Bio Economy Innovation Hub (CBEIH), BAIF, in partnership with IWMI, successfully organised the Circular BioEconomy Youth Innovation Challenge 2025 on 4–5 December 2025. The challenge aimed to support early-stage startups developing innovative circularity-based solutions.

Four finalist startups were selected for a day-long bootcamp and grand finale held at BAIF’s Head Office, Pune. The bootcamp equipped startups with practical insights on financial planning, market assessment, and effective pitching, complemented by one-to-one technical mentoring sessions with global experts. The startups presented their final pitches before an expert jury, and the top-performing startups were felicitated.

The event also featured a full-day stakeholder consultation on the Circular Bioeconomy, bringing together national and state-level stakeholders. Participants included representatives from NABARD, CSR partners such as Tata Trusts and Schaeffler India, development agencies like GIZ and Stars Forum, incubation and research institutions including Venture Center, Vigyan Ashram, IIT-CTARA and the Centre for Sustainable Development, along with circularity-focused enterprises such as Samuchit Enviro Tech, Biofuel Circle and Cleanergy Tech.

Discussions focussed on emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, the significant potential of circular bioeconomy solutions, and opportunities for green job creation and rural entrepreneurship towards a resource-efficient future.

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November 28, 2025: BAIF Development Research Foundation and Centre for Social Research & Innovation, School of Leadership, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Odisha, collaborated for knowledge exchange, course design, research, incubation, immersion, leadership development, consortium projects and joint studies in rural development, agriculture and allied domains. Dr. Bharat Kakade, President, BAIF and Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT, formalised the MoU in the virtual handover ceremony in the presence of senior officials.

It was a momentous occasion when both the organisations with shared values, came together in pursuit of collaborative excellence. KIIT, a champion of holistic education and BAIF, committed to rural upliftment, have been contributing to human development, societal progress and the growth of the nation. With a robust formal partnership, this collective strength can be leveraged manifold for a larger cause.

As the saying goes, ” Alone, we can go fast, together, we can go far”. Hence, it is envisaged that this collaborative journey will enable both the organisations to attain common goals of sustainable development. BAIF expresses its gratitude to KIIT for being a part of this endeavour and looks forward to an enriching partnership.

BAIF Livestock Technician, Shri. Dilip Kumar Pradhan from Angul district of Odisha, was awarded the National Gopal Ratna Award 2025 for Best Artificial Insemination Technician in the country, at the hands of the Hon. Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and Shri George Kurian on the occasion of National Milk Day in New Delhi. The award ceremony was organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

November 17, 2025: The timing could not have been better. In the wake of the United Nations Climate Summit and its focus on making livestock a part of climate solutions, the fourth consecutive win of the prestigious National Gopal Ratna Award, constituted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India for outstanding contributions to livestock and dairy development, by BAIF’s Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians in Odisha, reveals the silent revolution being woven in the hinterlands of our country for integrating livestock into national climate actions and resilient livelihoods.

BAIF compliments Shri. Dilip Kumar Pradhan from Angul district of Odisha for winning the National Gopal Ratna Award 2025 and for securing the first position under Best AIT category. He has amply proved that dedicated community service along with the right package of practices can benefit smallholder farmers to a considerable extent.

The key innovations in the BAIF Livestock Development model in Odisha and other regions of the country include doorstep breeding services for smallholder farmers, digital tools for tracking animal health and productivity, methane-reducing feed additives like “Harit Dhara”, and a continued focus on genetic improvement through advanced breeding and genomics. These efforts underscore the need for policy alignment, technology adoption, and measurable outcomes to position livestock as a contributor to national climate goals and to unlock climate finance. As an UNFCCC-accredited Observer Organisation, this recognition further demonstrates the reliability of livestock as a sustainable source of income for millions of smallholders in India as well as in the Global South.

The Award is also a testimony of the efficacy of the robust model pioneered by BAIF, integrating quality door-step livestock development services with skilled local self-employment. The support received by BAIF from the Government of Odisha, which has contributed to the dairy sector of the State and empowered the youth to excel in doorstep livestock development services, is gratefully acknowledged. We also take this opportunity to thank the Government of India for recognising and encouraging grassroots efforts in nation-building.

October 24, 2025: Any city or Pune city for that matter, cannot be viewed in isolation. They are all a part of a larger ecosystem and they rely on interconnected systems of water, food and human resources, stated Dr. Bharat Kakade, President, BAIF Development Research Foundation. Considering them as part of a larger supply chain is the key to achieving clean milk, residue-free food, renewable energy and clean water, he added. As a representative of BAIF which was a recipient of the JSW-Times of India 13th Earth Care Award for this year, Dr. Kakade was an invited panelist at the discussions on “Building Resilient Cities: Climate Action, Innovation and Equity” held in Pune.

BAIF’s renewable energy-powered campuses around Pune, demonstration of agrovoltaics technology, nurturing of youth to work on hi-tech agriculture value chains while generating employment, innovated feed supplement to reduce enteric fermentation by 20 per cent, the one-acre wadi model created by tribal families in sequestering 50 tons of carbon annually and its replication by NABARD and Tribal Development departments in more than 22 states and conservation of more than 700 varieties of millets and rice by tribal communities which have been processed and supplied by startups to Pune and Mumbai, were some of the examples quoted by Dr. Kakade in demonstrating how economy and ecology can go hand in hand. Social enterprise promotion, rural incubation, disaster management, land degradation control and improving soil health, agroforestry, spineless cactus promotion, chain of Naharis (tribal restaurants) for supply of healthy native food, participation in the Conference of the Parties at the global level and a landscape-based catchment management approach were also highlighted as some of the other climate action initiatives of BAIF.

Earlier, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), mooted the concept of More from Less for More (MLM) for inclusive and sustainable innovation. Other invited panel members included Dr. Priyadarshini Karve, Convener, Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change, Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, Professor and Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and Mr. Amarnath Karan, Scientist SE in Urban Programmes, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) who focussed on co-existence of environment and ecology, awareness generation and co-creation of different models. Ms. Prachi Shevgaonkar, Founder, Cool The Globe, moderated the discussions.