Latest news with #SanjeevBikhchandani
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Ashoka university opens special admissions for US-bound students hit by visa delays
Ashoka University opens Special Admissions Round for students with U.S. college offers facing visa delays. Apply from June 16 to June 30, 2025. Ashoka University has initiated a Special Admissions Round for the class of 2025, targeting students who have received offers from US universities. This innovative move addresses the uncertainties faced by international students due to delayed U.S. visas and evolving global guidelines. Application details The application window for this special round runs from June 16 to June 30, 2025. The initiative specifically caters to students who have confirmed offers from US colleges or are currently enrolled in US-based universities. Importantly, those who have already applied for Ashoka's 2025 intake are not eligible for this round. This decision underscores the university's commitment to providing opportunities for students facing international challenges. Required documentation Applicants must submit a scanned copy of their accepted US university offer letter along with the original application form submitted to the concerned institution. There is no application fee, and submissions must be made through the Ashoka University Application Portal. Each candidate is allowed only one application per cycle. This streamlined process ensures that the focus remains on academic merit and potential. Selection process Shortlisted candidates will be required to write an on-the-spot essay and participate in a personal interview. Final decisions will be communicated as per the timetable available on Ashoka's admissions website. Queries can be directed to the university via email at ugapply@ This rigorous selection process is designed to identify students who can thrive in Ashoka's dynamic academic environment. University's objectives Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder of Ashoka University, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter). 'Ashoka University announces a Special Admissions Round for the 2025 batch of the Undergraduate Programme for students with offers from universities based in the United States of America only," he stated. This step aims to offer a stable and high-quality academic alternative within India for students affected by international uncertainties. The university seeks to provide continuity in education for those disrupted by global issues. This new admissions round is part of the university's broader efforts to adapt to global educational challenges, enhancing its reputation as a leading institution in India's higher education landscape.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Will Naukri founder fund Mumbai auto driver earning lakhs outside US consulate? Depends on SME listing, he quips
A viral LinkedIn post recently celebrated the sheer ingenuity of a Mumbai-based auto rickshaw driver who earns Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh per month without even switching on his engine. The buzz, however, met a contrasting response from Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder of Info Edge and an IIM-Ahmedabad graduate. Weighing in on X, the veteran investor explained why he believes the idea, despite its profitability, is not venture capital fundable. Bikhchandani outlined that the auto driver's model, while impressive in hustle, lacks fundamental characteristics that make a business investable. According to him, it cannot scale unless replicated across multiple consulate locations. It also has low barriers to entry, meaning others can easily copy it and undercut the pricing. Since the setup requires little to no capital, it leaves minimal room for high-stakes investment. Most importantly, Bikhchandani questioned what the eventual exit strategy would even look like. He suggested that perhaps the only way out would be to list on the SME exchange. — sbikh (@sbikh) Internet reacts A user wrote, 'Of course not, but the person is investable for sure, as he is street smart, spotted an opportunity.' Another commented, 'Totally agree. This isn't for VCs, but ground-level innovation like this is the real driver of opportunity in India's cities. Sometimes, the best business ideas come without pitch decks or MBAs.' What is the story behind the auto driver outside the US Consulate? This critical lens came in response to the original post by Rahul Rupani, Product Leader at Lenskart. He had praised the driver for identifying a pain point outside the US Consulate, where no bags are allowed inside and no locker facilities exist. The auto driver offered to safely store bags for Rs 1,000 each, directing them to a nearby locker he had partnered with. With up to 30 customers a day, the math quickly added up. Rupani hailed it as a bootstrapped, hyper-local business that nailed product-market fit without tech, funding, or even movement. You Might Also Like: No MBA. Mumbai auto-driver earns Rs 8 lakh monthly through his side-business outside US Consulate Netizens were impressed by the auto driver's creativity and business sense. Many expressed curiosity about how he managed to build trust with strangers, especially given that new people visit the consulate every day. Others pointed out how a simple yet sharp business idea like this can be life-changing. Several users praised the story as a brilliant example of real-world entrepreneurship and street-smart problem-solving. About SME IPOs in India After a surge in SME IPOs, India's market regulator SEBI tightened regulations in 2024 to curb excessive valuations and improve transparency. The new rules require small- and medium-sized enterprises to show profitability in recent years before listing. This move came amid concerns from analysts about inflated valuations in the SME segment. SEBI also restricted how IPO proceeds can be used, prohibiting the repayment of loans to major shareholders or related parties. In addition, the regulator revamped norms for merchant bankers, mandating a clear separation of their core merchant banking operations from other unrelated business activities.
India Today
05-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Meet Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder of Ashoka University and Naukri
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most revered entrepreneurs and philanthropists in India. He is widely known as the founder of India's first online job portal, but he has also created a huge impact in India's education sector by co-founding Ashoka University. From building businesses to supporting social causes, Sanjeev Bikhchandani represents a compelling story of how innovation, vision, and meaning can overlap to drive real is Sanjeev Bikhchandani?Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most respected entrepreneurs in India. He is most known for founding India's first and most popular online job portal. Today, he is also known as a powerful investor, philanthropist, and startup mentor. His efforts have improved the lives of millions of jobseekers across India and helped shape the digital economy.A Look at Sanjeev Bikhchandani's Professional JourneySanjeev Bikhchandani is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of Info Edge. He was born in New Delhi, India. Bikhchandani went to St. Columba's School, New Delhi, and graduated from school in obtained a Bachelor of Arts with Economics as his main subject from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, graduating in 1984, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) in completing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 1989, Sanjeev Bikhchandani began his career in marketing at Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now GlaxoSmithKline), working on the Horlicks 1990, he left his job to pursue entrepreneurship. He founded Info Edge in 1995, which would become a leading online classifieds company in 1997, he launched which quickly grew to become India's largest web-based employment site, revolutionising job search and recruitment in the his leadership, Info Edge expanded its portfolio with other classified sites, including (real estate), (matrimonial), and (education).Bikhchandani is recognised as an astute investor, having made successful investments in startups such as PolicyBazaar and is also part of the 'Vision Circle' of FYI (Foundation for Young Innovators), a non-profit organisation supporting young has received several honours, including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2008) and the Padma Shri (2020).Awards and honours received by Sanjeev Bikhchandani 2008: Received the Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Business Transformation.2008: Honoured with the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award and Teacher's Achievement Award for Business.2011: Conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A).2012: Received the CF Andrews Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.2012: Honoured with the Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award as Young Leader in the Business Category.2017: Featured in Outlook Magazine's list of India's fifty greatest CEOs ever.2019: Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in IT by the Financial Express.2020: Conferred the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Sanjeev Bikhchandani stands not just as the founder of a successful internet company but as a symbol of how entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for change. From enabling millions of Indians to find jobs through to investing in the country's digital and educational future, Bikhchandani continues to inspire a new generation of change India's startup and innovation ecosystem evolves, leaders like him remain a guiding light for building businesses that are both purposeful and impactful.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Seriously discussed walking away, Ashoka University co-founder says amid row
Addressing the row over Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad's controversial social media post on Operation Sindoor, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder of the institute, in an email to alumnus stated that he and his fellow co-founders had 'seriously discussed' the option of walking away from it. He was responding to an email from an anonymous alumnus, who had questioned the co-founder's stand on the row triggered by Mr. Mahmudabad's post and his subsequent arrest. Referring to the university's co-founders Pramath Raj Sinha and Ashish Dhawan in an internal email, Mr. Bhikchandani stated, 'Why don't you and other alumni offer to step in and take over? Pramath, Ashish, and I have seriously discussed the option of walking away. Ashoka is too much of a headache. Is it worth the effort? And you may not believe this, but money, even in this day and age, does not grow on trees but it still makes the world go round. Every rupee has to be sweated for.' Mr. Bhikchandani stated he was down with COVID-19 and further wrote, 'A political opinion expressed on Facebook or Twitter (X) or Instagram is not academic scholarship. Consequently, any public outcry about a political opinion an academic may express on social media is not an attack on academic freedom, even if the person expressing that opinion has a day job as an academic.' Had been feeling out of sorts for the last three days. Tested positive for Covid last evening. Went into isolation. A Sindhi friend in Mumbai had sent some Lolas. Feeling peckish at 5am I had half a Lola. I could not taste anything. Key learning - you know it is Covid when a… — Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) June 1, 2025 Mr. Bhikchandani stated that the university is not obliged to support a person for the political opinions they express in their personal capacity.
News18
04-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Ashoka Co-Founder Reacts To Mahmudabad Row: 'Activism, Liberal Arts University Not Joined At The Hip'
Sanjeev Bikhchandani pointed out that while the founders are criticised as "dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder and trustee of Ashoka University, has expressed concerns over growing 'activism" within the institution, suggesting it has become a 'headache" and hinting at the possibility of distancing himself from the university. His remarks came in an email response to an alumnus's criticism regarding the university's handling of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad's arrest. In a candid email shared on an internal mailing list, Bikhchandani emphasised that activism is not an inherent component of a liberal arts education. He stated, 'Activism and a Liberal Arts University are not joined at the hip. Ashoka is a Liberal Arts and Sciences University. Whether to be activists or not is a conscious choice people make." He further noted that his previous attempts to question the extent of activism at Ashoka were met with hostility, suggesting that some individuals have 'captured the institution" and resist any challenge to their views. Bikhchandani also highlighted the financial contributions of the university's founders, pointing out that while they are often criticised as 'dirty filthy capitalists," they are the ones funding the institution. He questioned the assumption that liberal arts education must be synonymous with activism, citing his own experience at a liberal arts and sciences college where activism was minimal, yet students thrived. 'In the past I have questioned the activism at Ashoka—each time, I have been pounced upon by the activists and their supporters, both within and outside Ashoka: students, faculty, activists, etc., saying that 'if you are running a liberal arts university, then activism goes with the territory', that 'I am an arrogant owner', that 'dirty filthy capitalists don't understand how a university runs' (they somehow forget that the same capitalists are paying their salaries)," Bikchandani wrote. Mentioning how he asked Google AI if all liberal arts universities are activist in nature, he wrote, 'The fundamental point I am making is that activism at Ashoka is a choice and it does not go with the territory. You can be a great liberal arts university and not be activist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar." Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, head of the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18, 2025, by Haryana Police over a social media post related to Operation Sindoor, India's percision strike against terrorist bases in Pakistan and PoK. Mahmudabad had in his social media post praised India's strategic doctrine and the outcome of Operation Sindoor, but criticised 'symbolic optics' and the treatment of minorities. His arrest followed complaints alleging that his post was inflammatory and disrespectful to women in the armed forces. However, colleagues have defended Mahmudabad, asserting that his post supported the Indian government's stance and praised the strategic restraint of the armed forces. The Supreme Court granted Mahmudabad interim bail, extending it until the third week of July. The court has directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to limit its probe to the two FIRs filed in relation to Mahmudabad's Facebook post and has restrained him from posting any content online related to the ongoing case.
