Gopi Karelia

Inspired by William Laurie Baker, Maharashtra-based ABHA Architecture, by Praveen and Vidya, uses eco-conscious material palettes and passive cooling strategies to build cost-effective, durable and disaster-resistant homes.

Dr Ujjwal Chavan, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, has run a massive water conservation initiative to rejuvenate the river and improve groundwater tables in several Maharashtra villages, including Dhamangaon, where he is originally from. His efforts have benefited around 30,000 farmers so far.

70-year-old Kanchan Parulekar helms Swayamsiddha, a Kolhapur-based organisation that, in the last 28 years, has worked to create women entrepreneurs. The businesses range from bakeries to food processing units, bag manufacturing units, beauty parlours and handicrafts.

Hindustani Classical vocalist Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and paved the way for female artists at a time when they were not allowed to perform on stage. Her immense talent and popularity earned her several awards and disciples, including Padma Shri winner Prabha Atre, Vrinda Limaye, Bakul Pandit, Saraswati Rane and many more.

Naveen Krishna is the founder of Uttar Pradesh-based SMV Green Solutions, which provides a platform where people can buy, operate and, most importantly, own a vehicle of their own.

Dilip from Odisha learnt an innovative method to grow potatoes using agro-waste, to put an end to stubble burning.

Parikipandla Narahari, a 2001-batch IAS officer from Telangana cleared the UPSC with an All-India Rank of 78. All this, despite having limited resources and while juggling a full-time job. He also led Indore as India’s cleanest city, and introduced the Ladli Laxmi Yojana in MP.

Pankaj Tripathi’s movie, Kaagaz is based on the life of Lal Bihari from Uttar Pradesh who was declared dead by the government. He fought a 'posthumous' battle for 18 years to prove that he is indeed alive.

When Rohit Patel from Ahmedabad was charged Rs 164 for a bottle of water, which is usually worth Rs 20, he refused to turn a blind eye. He undertook a five-year-long battle with the hotel at the Ahmedabad (Rural) Consumer Disputes Redressal under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Born to specially-abled farm labourers, IRS officer Vishnu Auti from Maharashtra grew up amidst poverty and famine but that did not stop him from cracking UPSC CSE without any coaching.