Champions of Change Award

The Champions of Change Award is a highly prestigious recognition organized at the International, National, and State levels across India by the Interactive Forum on Indian Economy (IFIE), a Government of India-recognized, not-for-profit organization compliant with 80G, 12A, and 8A norms. The award celebrates and honors the unsung “Champions” who have brought meaningful change to society through their dedication to public service, social upliftment, and nation-building.

This distinguished initiative spans multiple states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Telangana, ensuring that impactful contributions from across the country are recognized on a unified national platform.

Eminent Awardees & Honourees

Bharat Ratna Awardees

  • Prof. C. N. R. Rao – Renowned Scientist, Former Scientific Adviser to the Government of India & Bharat Ratna Awardee
  • Shri Karpoori Thakur – Former Chief Minister of Bihar (Posthumous) & Bharat Ratna Awardee

Chief Ministers 

  • Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan – Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Current); Former Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh
  • Shri Manohar Lal Khattar – Union Minister of Power & Housing and Urban Affairs (Current); Former Chief Minister, Haryana
  • Shri Pramod Sawant – Chief Minister, Goa
  • Shri Hemant Soren – Chief Minister, Jharkhand
  • Shri N. Biren Singh – Former Chief Minister, Manipur
  • Shri Devendra Fadnavis – Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra (Current); Former Chief Minister
  • Shri M. K. Stalin – Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu

Spiritual Leaders

  • Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj – Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, Juna Akhara
  • Swami Chidanand Saraswati – President, Parmarth Niketan Ashram

Param Vir Chakra Awardees

  • Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar – Subedar Major, Indian Army (Honorary Captain) & Param Vir Chakra Awardee
  • Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav – Honorary Captain, Indian Army & Param Vir Chakra Awardee

Union Ministers & Senior Leaders

  • Shri Anurag Thakur – Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Former Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports
  • Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – Union Minister of Culture & Tourism (Current); Former Jal Shakti Minister
  • Shri Nripendra Misra – Chairman, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee; Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India
  • Shri Shripad Naik – Minister of State for Power & New and Renewable Energy
  • Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti – Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
  • Shri Sumanbhai Bhabhor – Former Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs

Padma Awardees & Icons (with Awards Mentioned)

  • Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade – Dharmadhikari, Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala & Padma Vibhushan Awardee
  • Shri S. M. Krishna – Former Chief Minister, Karnataka & Former External Affairs Minister & Padma Vibhushan Awardee
  • Pt. Chhannulal Mishra – Renowned Classical Vocalist & Padma Vibhushan Awardee
  • Smt. Teejan Bai – Folk Artist (Pandavani) & Padma Vibhushan Awardee
  • Shri Abhinav Bindra – Olympic Gold Medalist Shooter & Padma Bhushan Awardee
  • Shri Sunil Gavaskar – Former Captain, Indian Cricket Team & Padma Bhushan Awardee
  • Smt. P. V. Sindhu – Olympic Medalist Badminton Player & Padma Bhushan Awardee
  • Shri Neeraj Chopra – Olympic Gold Medalist Javelin Thrower & Padma Shri Awardee

Culture and Sports

  • Sunil Gavaskar (Padma Bhusan)
  • Neeraj Chopra (Padma Shri)
  • Udit Narayan
  • Sonu Nigam (Padma Shri)
  • Hema Malini
  • Sushmita Sen
  • R. Madhavan (Padma Shri)
  • Juhi Chawla
  • Allu Aravind
  • Shilpa Shetty
  • Jackie Shroff
  • Dia Mirza
  • Palak Muchhal
  • Manoj Bajpayee (Padma Shri)
  • Arjun Rampal
  • Sonu sood
  • Farah Khan
  • Abbas- Mustan
  • PV Sindhu (Padma Bhusan)
  • Bharat Thakur
  • Piyush Mishra
  • Divyanka Tripathi
  • Saumya Tandon
  • Deepa Malik (Padma Shri)
  • Babita Phogat
  • Nitu Ghangas
  • Yashpal Sharma
  • Virendra Sehwag (Padma Shri)
  • Sumit Antil (Padma Shri)
  • Richa Sharma
  • Late Dr. Vishnu Vardhan
  • Upendra Rao
  • Shekhar Suman
  • Nitu Chandra
  • Faizal Khan (Khan Sir) 
  • Sharad Kumar

Champions of Change Award

Champions of Change is an Indian award, for promoting Gandhian values, (Swachata), community service and social development.(in Aspirational district in india), selected by constitutional jury members headed by K. G. Balakrishnan Former Chief Justice of India and Former Chairman NHRC. and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India. The awards are organised annually and usually presented by the President of India, Vice President of India, Former President of India, Former Vice president of India or any leading political figure of India. 

The foundation, currently headed by Adv. Nandan Jha, was created in 2011.

The award is being given under the Transformation of Aspirational District program, in the district declared Aspirational by Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi in January 2018.

The programme identifies the progress of 115 ‘aspirational’ districts whose development is being monitored by the NITI Aayog. Nandan Jha is the chairman of the ‘Interactive Forum on Indian Economy’.

The award comprises a certificate and a gold medal. It is given in four categories, namely:

  • Constructive Work in 115 Aspirational districts in India.
  • Application of Education, Healthcare, Science and Technology for Rural Development.
  • Outstanding contribution to the Development and Welfare of Women and Children (115 Aspirational districts )
  • Outstanding contribution to Swatch Bharat Abhiyan
  • International Award for promoting Gandhian values outside India.