Kanyathon 2026 Draws 13,000 Runners, Marks 15 Years of Girls’ Empowerment

Kanyathon 2026, India’s largest student-led charity run, marked its 15th edition with more than 13,000 participants across Bengaluru, Karjat and Pilani, reinforcing its mission to support girls’ education and empowerment. The event brought together runners, students, volunteers and corporate partners,

highlighting the scale the initiative has achieved since its modest beginnings. Nearly 10,000 participants joined the run in Bengaluru, over 2,000 in Karjat, and close to 1,000 runners took part at BITS Pilani.

The charity run, organised entirely by students from IFIM Institutions, Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM), and Vijaybhoomi University, continues to be recognised as a prominent student-led social initiative. Endorsed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Fit India Movement, Kanyathon has grown significantly since its launch in 2011 with just 400 participants. Since 2019, the initiative has raised several crores in donations, including around ₹65 lakh in 2026, supported by individuals and companies such as Wipro, HP, Timken, Biocon, Infosys, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Brillio, Momentive, Sagility and Tech Mahindra.

Mrs. Kalpana Padode, Governing Board Member, Vijaybhoomi University, said, “Kanyathon is not just a run. It is a movement in motion. With every step you take, a girl moves closer to education, dignity, and the power to shape her own destiny. The journey that began with a simple belief that when people come together for a cause, real change begins. What started as a small initiative has today grown into a meaningful movement. More than 3 lakh girls have been impacted over the last 15 years, and together, we have supported NGOs, enabled EWS scholarships, uplifted daughters from red-light areas, established Kanyathon Shiksha Kendras, and built washrooms in government schools- bringing dignity, education, and opportunity where it is needed most.”

Over the years, Kanyathon has also established nine Kanyathon Shiksha Kendras in government schools across Karnataka and Maharashtra, providing structured programmes in spoken English, computer literacy and health education to over 1,000 students. It has also supported computer labs, classroom upgrades and sanitation facilities, while scholarships and mid-day meal partnerships aim to keep girls in school.

Prof. Sudhirkumar Barai, Director BITS Pilani, said, "Kanyathon at BITS Pilani was a meaningful celebration of women’s empowerment on International Women’s Day. It was especially heartening to see the participation of young girls from underprivileged communities, making the event not just symbolic but truly impactful. We are proud to collaborate on an initiative that reflects dignity, inclusion and the power of education-led change."

The 2026 edition featured 3 km walkathons, 5 km and 10 km timed runs, pro runs, family runs and community fitness activities. With increasing corporate support and strong volunteer participation, organisers aim to extend the initiative’s outreach to around 1,000 additional girls in the coming year through expanded programmes in education, health and digital literacy.