Yukti Dahiya has distinguished herself at a young age as a student leader, researcher, entrepreneur, and social-impact advocate, earning recognition at national and international levels for her contributions to education, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and research. Her journey reflects a strong commitment to transforming knowledge into practical solutions and creating opportunities that can generate meaningful social change.
A significant dimension of her work is expanding access to entrepreneurship and education beyond conventional urban ecosystems. She is the founder of RISE—Rural Incubation and Startup Enablement, an initiative designed to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, mentorship, and resources required to develop their ideas. Through RISE, she has supported entrepreneurship workshops, individual mentorship, startup acceleration, microgrants, and investor connections. The initiative has incubated more than 75 startups and developed a network of over 100 mentors, creating pathways for emerging entrepreneurs who may otherwise have limited access to established startup ecosystems.
Alongside entrepreneurship, she has developed a strong interest in academic research. Her research work has covered areas including economics, labour markets, sustainability, and social development. She has also had opportunities to work alongside PhD researchers while still in school, gaining exposure to rigorous research methodologies and complex socio-economic questions. Her academic efforts received international recognition through the Best Research Paper Award by Oxford Global, further highlighting her commitment to research-driven problem-solving.
Her social-impact initiatives extend to education, financial literacy, food sustainability, and youth empowerment. She believes that sustainable development requires both immediate intervention and long-term solutions addressing systemic challenges. Her financial-literacy initiative reached students across 20 schools and earned her the Youth Power Award. Through workshops, interactive activities, and community outreach, she has worked to make financial education more accessible and engaging, helping young people develop practical knowledge for informed financial decision-making.
Her sustainability-focused work has also gained international recognition. At the Harvard Sustainability Impact Summit, she achieved Rank 1 for her work and ideas related to sustainable development and impact. The experience strengthened her interest in connecting entrepreneurship, economics, innovation, and sustainability to address contemporary global challenges.
Her leadership and multidisciplinary achievements have earned several honours, including the All-Rounder Award and the Young Leader Award for Excellence. In 2025, she received the India’s Young-preneur Summit 2025 Award and was felicitated by the Chief Minister of Delhi for her entrepreneurial contributions. She has also received the National Humanitarian Excellence Award for her contribution to educational excellence and community-oriented initiatives.
Among her notable recognitions, she was nominated for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, one of India’s highest honours for children, with the nomination supported by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India. The recognition reflected the breadth of her contributions across research, entrepreneurship, leadership, and social impact.
What distinguishes her journey is not merely the number of accolades but the diversity and continuity of her initiatives. Whether advancing financial literacy, conducting research, promoting sustainability, or building entrepreneurial ecosystems through RISE, she consistently focuses on converting ideas into practical outcomes.
Through her academic pursuits, entrepreneurial initiatives, and community-focused efforts, Yukti continues to demonstrate the potential of young leadership. Her journey reflects a clear belief that access to knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity can empower individuals and create lasting change within communities.
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