Financial Services

Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL)

Chemicals

Aditya Birla Chemicals (Thailand) (ABCTL)

Fashion

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL)

Trading

Aditya Birla Global Trading

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Limited (ABHICL)

Carbon Black

Birla Carbon

Paints

Birla Opus

Cellulosic Fibre

Century Enka

Domsjö Fabriker (Domsjö)

Textiles

Grasim Industries Limited

Metals

Hindalco Industries Limited

Indo Thai Synthetics Company Limited

Novelis Inc

Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd (TAF)

Cement

UltraTech Cement Limited

Telecom

Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi)

<img class="image_resized image-style-align-left" style="width:30%;" src="https://www.cms.adityabirla.com/uploads/group_of_rural_school_girls_568f4f6dd3.webp" alt="group-of-rural-school-girls.webp">Education is a powerful catalyst for change, and Aditya Birla Group is committed to harnessing its transformative potential. Through diverse initiatives, Group businesses are shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for communities worldwide. Let’s dive into these collective efforts.For Aditya Birla Group, education work is not just an initiative—it is a transformative tool for socio-economic change, a ‘<a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">Force for Good</a>’ that touches lives across communities and geographies. Guided by the Group's philosophy of trusteeship, education has become a key aspect in the social efforts of different Group businesses, with an aim to improve lives, create opportunities, and ensure that every child has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. This approach is not just about classrooms—it’s about nurturing minds, providing sustainable support, and building pathways for future leaders.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h3>Opening doors to education</h3>Across Aditya Birla Group businesses, education initiatives are creating doors of opportunity that open to brighter futures. <a href="/businesses/companies/hindalco-industries-limited/">Hindalco’s </a>commitment to education in underprivileged communities, especially for girls, has touched over 12,000 students in 17 schools. By focusing on elementary and secondary education, vocational training, and skill development, Hindalco has empowered students to break the cycle of poverty.The impact extends beyond borders through its subsidiary, Novelis, where over 700,000 students have benefited from its partnership with the FIRST initiative, and thousands more engage in STEM programs. This collective effort ensures that every child has access to the knowledge and skills they need to thrive, regardless of their socio-economic background. &nbsp;<h3> Fostering lifelong learning</h3><a href="/businesses/companies/grasim-industries-limited/">Grasim</a> continues to build upon this foundation by enhancing the quality of education for rural children. With initiatives like the School Enrolment Programme and Project Gyanarjan, Grasim works to ensure that children not only stay in school but excel academically. These initiatives have supported over 90,000 beneficiaries, providing resources such as uniforms, educational materials, and coaching to students from marginalised backgrounds. Through this approach, Grasim is investing in today’s students and laying the groundwork for future generations to access better education and brighter career prospects. &nbsp;<h3> Modernising education</h3>But education is more than just staying in school—it’s about fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and the drive to succeed. <a href="/businesses/companies/aditya-birla-capital-limited-abcl/">Aditya Birla Capital</a> is transforming learning experiences with digital classrooms, upgraded science labs, and mobile learning tools in regions like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, reaching over 65,000 students. These upgrades go beyond infrastructure: they encourage students to explore new areas of knowledge, bridging gaps in understanding and preparing them for future challenges. Remedial classes and career counselling programs further ensure that every child, once again, especially from marginalised communities, has the resources and guidance to reach their full potential. &nbsp;<h3> <img class="image_resized image-style-align-right" style="width:30%;" src="https://www.cms.adityabirla.com/uploads/teacher_with_students_around_ac42b1361c.webp" alt="teacher-with-students-around.webp">Focusing on the girl child</h3>A key focus of these educational initiatives has been the empowerment of young girls, who often face barriers to education due to societal norms. <a href="/businesses/companies/aditya-birla-fashion-and-retail-limited-abfrl/">Aditya Birla Fashion &amp; Retail’s</a> School Transformation Project and Gyanarjan have impacted nearly 130,000 girls, providing them with the opportunity to overcome these obstacles and pursue their academic and professional dreams.The company's holistic approach extends beyond academics to include career counselling, extracurricular activities, and digital literacy programs. A shining example of this success is the achievement of students from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, where over 95% of students passed their Class 10 exams, laying a strong foundation for their future. &nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h3>Innovating for sustainable learning</h3>Education at Aditya Birla Group is also about creating environments that foster long-term growth and sustainability. UltraTech Cement’s CSR initiatives have established 31 schools, reaching nearly 20,000 students, and supporting over 295 anganwadis, impacting 12,000 children. But their work goes beyond just building schools; they are creating self-sustaining environments. By introducing solar energy projects in schools near their cement plants, UltraTech has improved learning conditions for 1,500 students while reducing dependence on grid electricity. Their Navodaya Coaching Program further prepares students for entrance exams, equipping them with the skills needed for a brighter future. &nbsp;<h3> Education as a path to opportunity</h3>In regions where barriers like child labour threaten children’s futures, education becomes the tool for transformation. Century Paper’s Smart Schools initiative works with local NGOs to enrol children from marginalised communities in schools, providing them with the education and digital literacy necessary to build brighter futures. By reducing child labour and offering opportunities for academic and personal growth, <a href="/businesses/companies/century-pulp-and-paper/">Century Paper</a> is not only transforming individual lives but also empowering entire communities to break free from the cycles of poverty and exploitation. &nbsp;<h3> A force for good futures</h3><img class="image_resized image-style-align-left" style="width:30%;" src="https://www.cms.adityabirla.com/uploads/key_in_a_book_4ebeabc332.webp" alt="key-in-a-book.webp">These diverse education initiatives across Aditya Birla Group businesses reflect a shared vision of inclusion, equity, and sustainability. Together, they support a learning ecosystem where the aim is not just to provide education, but to create lasting, transformative change. The Group’s focus on marginalised communities, particularly girls, and its commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure ensure that the future is brighter for all.With these combined efforts, Aditya Birla Group is helping shape the citizenry of tomorrow, offering opportunities for empowerment, and laying the foundation for a more prosperous future; it is a Force for Good that is dedicated to transforming lives through education.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div>

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Reshaping the future through education 

When Sarah Iyer, a retired teacher, saw an indie dog lying paralysed on a street five years ago, it broke her heart. Pained at the plight of indie dogs, Sarah decided to channelise her indignation into a larger cause by opening a shelter for disabled and abandoned dogs, Daaman Animal Shelter, in Chennai.&nbsp;Now, five years later, Sarah, 59, and her husband, Gerry, who has been her rock in this mission, have provided a home to over 500 abandoned dogs, most of whom are old, blind or paralysed. “I think these dogs are the last on anyone’s priority list,” says Sarah, who also fulfilled her late mother’s wish to open an animal shelter with Daaman.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="video-responsive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/St1ohQd4JoU?controls=0&amp;muted=1&amp;rel=0&amp;list=PLOht9sWI0L7cJUKAtH-FbhZt_1YVaZanB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;Undoubtedly, running a dog shelter isn’t an easy task. Sarah and Gerry began by using their savings to rent a space and build enclosures. Now, their days are filled with feeding, treating and caring for abandoned dogs.When naysayers question their mission and accuse them of prolonging the torture for ailing and suffering dogs, Sarah’s response is to point to the joyfully wagging tails of the residents of Daaman. “You should come and see our shelter. There are happy dogs all around. Even if some of them are paraplegic, they play and have fun,” she says.Another challenge is when people secretly abandon their pets at the shelter gate or when owners refuse to come back for their dogs after they have recovered. The medical bills keep growing and funding is always a concern, too. However, Sarah is determined to give abandoned indie dogs a “forever” home.Her dream is to have dog shelters across India. “We would love to help others to start paraplegic dog shelters in their own cities and towns,” she says. Of course, she would prefer a world that doesn’t require such shelters at all. “If society stepped up and people would volunteer, donate or look after abandoned dogs, we would not need any shelters,” she says. Till that happens, Sarah and Gerry will continue to offer a sanctuary to old, ailing and paralysed abandoned dogs at Daaman.<a href="/our-story/vision-and-values/">Aditya Birla Group</a> is happy to partner The Better India to give voice to inspiring stories of people acting as #<a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">AForceForGood</a>.

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Retired teacher shelters 500+ abandoned dogs in five years

Stories of good are all around us -- pockets of positivity that act as inspiration for society. Here’s a heart-warming story about a cab driver who transformed his life into a <a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">force for good</a>.Once a cab driver on the streets of Pune, Dadasaheb Gaikwad’s life took a turn when he decided to dedicate his life to helping those abandoned on Pune’s streets. “They don’t have clothes, they eat food that’s thrown away, they have injuries that are untreated, there are flies swarming around them. They have no one, but they have Dadasaheb,” says this man who has made it his life mission to helping the homeless.&nbsp;<div class="video-responsive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpaWrdVexC4?controls=0&amp;muted=1&amp;rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;Dadasaheb was not born rich, but is rich in his love for humanity. As a cab driver, he would take time out to share his lunch dabba with homeless people. Then he started taking care of the homeless full time. He quit his job, even opened up his home and his wife sold her jewellery to support his mission. The family faced their own struggle in the effort to help others.Dadasaheb reached out to donors for support. With their help, he started renting a space and set up an NGO called ASK as a shelter. He now drives an ambulance and makes the rounds of Pune’s streets – ensuring a helping hand and an offer of food, clothes and medicines to those in need. Going many steps further, he spends hours in police stations trying to reunite people with their families.“When these people get better, they give me love and blessings. That’s all I need to feel I am in heaven,” he smiles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dadasaheb looks out for those helpless and vulnerable on the streets, the ones who don’t have anyone to look after them or have been abandoned by their families. These are the ones that this Pune social worker reaches out to. “If you see someone on the streets in Pune, call me. If nothing else, at least give them something to eat, he says.His message to those who are better off in life is simple: “Keep the humaneness alive.” That’s the true power of change.<a href="/our-story/vision-and-values/">Aditya Birla Group</a> is happy to partner The Better India to amplify social impact stories of people &nbsp;who are India’s unsung heroes, those who act as #AForceForGood.&nbsp;

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A cab driver turned ministering angel

A college principal becomes a green warrior, turns campus into a forestInspiring change doesn’t always require grand gestures—it can start with a single sapling. Dr. Sasikanta Dash, the principal of Tagore Arts &amp; Science College in Puducherry, has proven that one person’s commitment and will to be a <a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">force for good</a>, can transform an entire landscape, literally.When Dr. Dash first arrived at the college, he was greeted by barren land. Growing up in Odisha, surrounded by lush greenery until floods ravaged his village in 1984, he was deeply moved by the devastation. Driven by this experience, he made it his life’s mission to restore and protect nature wherever possible.&nbsp;<div class="video-responsive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cyjzkPRW_ZE?controls=0&amp;muted=1&amp;rel=0&amp;list=PLOht9sWI0L7cJUKAtH-FbhZt_1YVaZanB" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;With determination, Dr. Dash launched a greening initiative on the campus, planting nearly 8,000 trees over eight years. His efforts didn’t stop at planting; he turned tree-planting into a creative engagement for students. Those caught cheating in exams had to plant a tree, and gifting saplings became a tradition among the students.The journey wasn’t easy. In the beginning, Dr. Dash faced criticism from teachers and students alike, and even local cattle owners resisted his efforts. But perseverance paid off. Today, the campus is a thriving green oasis, offering shade and clean air while being 3 degrees cooler in the scorching summer heat.The transformation goes beyond greenery. A rainwater harvesting system holds 1.2 million litres of water, ensuring <a href="/sustainability/">sustainable water use</a>, and the college canteen serves meals made with organic vegetables grown on-campus. By integrating organic farming practices into campus life, Dr. Dash is nurturing a culture of <a href="/media/stories/engineering-a-planet-positive-growth-story/">sustainability and environmental conservation</a>, turning the campus into a living example of how small changes can create lasting impact. These efforts have not gone unnoticed—Dr. Dash has been honoured with the Chief Minister’s Award, and the campus is now recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, as a must-visit destination.His message is simple yet profound: “Each one, teach one, and plant one. That’s how our planet will survive.”<a href="/our-story/group-purpose/">Aditya Birla Group</a> is happy to partner The Better India to give voice to inspiring stories of people acting as #AForceForGood.

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A college principal who turned his campus into a forest

<img class="image_resized image-style-align-left" style="width:40%;" src="https://www.cms.adityabirla.com/uploads/girl_reading_book_e41b04ed5f.webp" alt="girl-reading-book.webp">Living in the heart of Odisha, Manyata Singh, a 12th grader, clinched gold at the Odisha State Shooting Championship in 2023, earning a berth at the nationals, where she won the title in the Junior Women’s 10m Air Rifle category. She returned next year to the state championship and bagged a silver.At just 23 years of age, Kashika Pradhan ranked No.1 in three air rifle events at the Odisha State Championships 2024 and even claimed the top spot in one event at the India Open Competition 2024.&nbsp;Manyata and Kashika’s dreams are fuelled by the support of their coaches and the cutting-edge training they receive at the Odisha Aditya Birla Gagan Narang Shooting High Performance Centre. Established in 2019, the Centre is a combined venture of Aditya Birla Group, the Government of Odisha and Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation (GNSPF).&nbsp;On National Girl Child Day, observed annually on January 24 in India, Aditya Birla Group salutes the spirit of girls like Manyata and Kashika who dare to dream big in the sports arena, but must face discrimination, lack of access to education and healthcare. One of the key areas of focus for our country is empowering girls through various means, including sports and physical health training.Sports play a vital role in the overall development of a girl child. The Women’s Sports Foundation, of which Billie Jean King (America’s former world no. 1 tennis player) is the founder, says that&nbsp;<ul><li>Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression.</li><li>Girls and women who play sports have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports. &nbsp;</li></ul>By encouraging girls to participate in sports, India can help break traditional stereotypes and provide them with equal opportunities for growth.&nbsp;On National Girl Child Day, let us pledge to work together so that many more Manyatas and Kashikas may chart their own journey of excellence.&nbsp;At <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.adityabirla.com/our-story/group-purpose/">Aditya Birla Group</a>, we endeavour to support the girl child in many ways, including education. But since we are talking abtout sports here, we would love to share this story with you. India’s cricket god, Sachin Tendulkar, has an eye for spotting talent early. He shared a Rajasthani girl’s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://x.com/sachin_rt/status/1870079347341812053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1870079347341812053%7Ctwgr%5E29762a327263bc98bf374c9bd17a4496d30f3bf0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gulte.com%2Fsports%2F331126%2Fsachin-tendulkar-finds-zaheer-khans-shades-in-rajasthan-girl">video on X</a>, and wrote, “Smooth, effortless, and lovely to watch! Sushila Meena’s bowling action has shades of you, @ImZaheer. Do you see it too?”We quickly responded to the tweet: “What a brilliant find, @sachintendulkar! Sushila’s talent is undeniable. We would be thrilled to support her journey with a cricket training under our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://foursforgood.in/">#FoursForGood</a> initiative. Let us all rally behind Sushila and help her shine! Together we can be #<a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">AForceforGood.</a>”

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January 24 is National Girl Child Day: Hello Manyata and Kashika!

With the turn of 2024, we have turned the page to a historical moment— a quarter of a century. It is striking to consider how much history has been compressed into these 25 years. This has been no ordinary span of time. This has been an era of tectonic shifts. From the dawn of the digital age and the globalisation of economies to the climate reckoning and the relentless march of artificial intelligence, these years have witnessed transformations that once would have taken centuries to unfold. In many ways, eras have collided, overlapped, and dissolved into each other, leaving a world forever altered—more connected yet divided, more advanced yet anxious, and more hopeful yet uncertain than ever before.It is evident that in 2025, we will be embracing a U3 world— uncertain, unpredictable, and unorthodox world. Importantly, we will be embracing an uncertain world, not wrestling with it. This reset could well define the paradox of our age—a world teeming with possibility but shadowed by lingering ambiguity. At times, it may feel like the new world is being shaped on social media streams. Reality, though, is far more intricate and consequential than a reel.The one factor that could disproportionately influence the course of the year is the T factor—The Trump Factor. This holds the potential to reshape geopolitical dynamics, with profound implications for the global economy and business. The United States has long been the most significant market for our Group outside India, with investments exceeding $15 billion, including a $4 billion greenfield expansion currently underway. I remain confident that the enduring strength of the India-US relationship will continue to deepen in the years ahead. The US economy’s dynamism remains unmatched, and our ongoing investments will contribute to the revitalization of its growing manufacturing sector. As Warren Buffett aptly put it, “Never bet against America.”The renewed global push for manufacturing is a welcome shift, signalling a move towards greater resilience and diversification in global supply chains. India, often underappreciated for its industrial capabilities, is poised to seize this moment. The migration of Apple’s ecosystem to India is emblematic of this transition; soon, a quarter of the world’s iPhones could be made in India. India’s automobile ecosystem, too, has matured into a global powerhouse, exporting components and vehicles to markets worldwide.Less recognized, however, is the sheer global scale of India’s cement industry—the second largest in the world. A vital national champion, it has fuelled India’s infrastructure growth, from cities to villages, while driving economic development and creating jobs. Our Group’s cement flagship, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.adityabirla.com/businesses/companies/ultratech-cement-limited/">UltraTech Cement</a>, crossed the capacity milestone of 150 MTPA in 2024. UltraTech today produces well over 1.5 times the total cement output of the United States and commands a capacity exceeding 80% of Europe’s. To me, this is a marker of India’s rising industrial strength and its emergence as a pivotal player in the global manufacturing renaissance.For us at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.adityabirla.com/our-story/leadership/">Aditya Birla Group</a>, 2024 has been a year like no other— a period when the Group has truly embodied its role as an engine of big bets. We have really seen the manifestation of the breadth, depth, and scale of our businesses in terms of the number of big strategic moves we have been able to make simultaneously. From launching and scaling multiple high growth platforms like paints, jewellery retail, and b2b e-commerce for building materials, to reinforcing our leadership in core businesses like <a href="/businesses/sectors/cement/">cement</a> and <a href="/businesses/sectors/metals/">metals</a>. From revitalising our telecom joint venture, to accelerating the transformation journey in our <a href="/businesses/sectors/financial-services/">financial services</a> and <a href="/businesses/sectors/fashion/">fashion</a> retail business. This has truly been a year of milestones.Each of these moves is consequential in itself, but when taken together, it demonstrates the power and dynamism of the Group. Our unique combination of capital, talent pool, brand power, industry expertise, and accumulated goodwill has enabled us to move with speed and decisiveness even at a time of global uncertainty.I have always believed that the stronger we grow, the greater the impact we create and the more we are able to enrich lives. Over the years, this foundational philosophy has encouraged us to widen the aperture and think even more expansively about the impact we can create. It energizes us to use our scale, resources, and leadership to amplify and create disproportionately better outcomes for all our stakeholders—employees, consumers, partners, investors and the society at large.Because, ultimately, business is and has to be <a href="/our-story/a-force-for-good/">a force for good</a>.The year 2024 also marked a milestone in the legacy of BITS Pilani— its 60th anniversary. Founded by my great-grandfather, Mr. GD Birla, and nurtured by my family across generations, this iconic institution has become a beacon of India's entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past 16 years, I have had the privilege of leading BITS Pilani, witnessing first-hand its transformative impact on India's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Among its alumni are over 6,400 start-up founders, including the creators of 17 unicorns and decacorns—testament to the institution's enduring influence.BITS Pilani has always been a crucible of critical thinking, audacious dreams, and relentless ambition. This enduring ethos was captured in a conversation I had with my great-grandfather in the 1970s. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I remarked that BITS would ensure Pilani, a small Rajasthani hamlet, remained in the spotlight. He smiled and replied, “While Pilani’s recognition is a positive outcome, the true aim was to create a talent factory for a rapidly industrialising India.” His words remain a powerful reminder of the institution’s deeper purpose.This belief in the transformative power of talent also resonates through the Aditya Birla Scholarships, a flagship program launched 25 years ago in memory of my father. Today, the program boasts 781 scholars—a cadre of globally accomplished Indians shaping the trajectories of leading firms and institutions worldwide.I have always believed that investment in talent is the foundation upon which the future is built. And while nurturing talent is a timeless pursuit, it takes on an even greater significance as we face the complexities and opportunities of a rapidly changing era.As we mark a quarter-century into the 21st century, a profound shift is underway. The first two decades were defined by the unrelenting march of technology—social media democratized content, amplified voices, and unlocked opportunities on a scale previously unimaginable. Yet, this revolution came with a price. The same tools that connected billions also fragmented societies, polarizing public discourse and eroding trust. My submission is that we may now be approaching the peak of this divisive moment.The next decade could herald a more profound transformation — the harnessing of technology as a force for unity. The hunger for authenticity and connectedness—deeper and more meaningful than algorithm-driven engagement—will drive the next wave of innovation. Platforms will evolve beyond their current purpose, creating spaces that bridge divides, foster understanding, and celebrate shared humanity, even amidst apparent differences. This yearning for connection will not be limited to social media but will extend to how businesses, governments, and communities engage with individuals. The manifestations of this trend will surprise us. From virtual communities that transcend borders to immersive technologies that dissolve boundaries. The craving for connection may prove to be the glue that binds a fractured world.The 21st century's next chapter awaits us, demanding vision, clarity, and resolve.- <a href="/our-story/leadership/mr-kumar-mangalam-birla/">Kumar Mangalam Birla</a>