National/Indore/Bhopal/Ranchi, April 30, 2026: Marico Limited’s flagship Nihar Shanti Pathshala Funwala (NSPF) programme marked a significant milestone with the successful conclusion of the National Word Power Championship 2026 held last week. This championship crowned outstanding English learners from vernacular-medium government schools, spotlighting young talent from Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Designed for students from Grades 2 to 5 studying in vernacular medium schools, the Word Power Championship addresses a critical gap in English literacy across Hindi-speaking states such as Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Alwar (Rajasthan), where regional languages dominate early education. Implemented by Marico’s education partner Leap For Word, the annual competition, India’s only national-level English literacy championship of its kind, modelled on the American Spelling Bee, evaluates students across reading, spelling, vocabulary, meaning, and comprehension, enabling holistic language development.
Notably, the programme has received formal adoption by state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. In Madhya Pradesh, it has been integrated into the state’s Olympiad initiative by the Rajya Shiksha Kendra (RSK). In Jharkhand, it has been institutionalised under the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Championship. Since its inception, the NSPF programme has benefitted over 38 lakh students nationwide, reinforcing its role as a scalable and impactful education model.
In Madhya Pradesh, at the National Word Power Championship 2026, Kumar Aaradhya Parasher, a Grade 5 student from Government HSS Girls School, Govindpura (BHEL), Bhopal, secured the 1st Prize, showcasing exceptional English language proficiency. Similarly, in Jharkhand, Kumari Lakshya Kumar Varnwal, a Grade 3 student from Cantt Girls Middle School, Ramgarh, secured 3rd place.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Amit Bhasin, Chief Legal Officer, Group General Counsel and Secretary – CSR Committee, Marico Limited, said, “The Nihar Shanti Pathshala Funwala Word Power Championship is a powerful testament to the impact of sustained, purpose-led collaboration within India’s education ecosystem. Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission, the programme is strengthening foundational language and literacy outcomes while expanding access to quality English learning for students in vernacular government schools. As the initiative scales across states, it is building confidence, critical thinking, and future readiness among young learners. At Marico, we believe language is a key enabler of trust and opportunity, and through the NSPF programme, we are proud to support a scalable, inclusive model that complements national education priorities.”
The 2025-2026 academic year showcased NSPF’s massive scale and engagement:
- Madhya Pradesh: 838,096 students registered, 42,999 progressed to cluster level, 364 qualified for district rounds, and Top 4 students per grade competed at the national stage.
- Jharkhand: 916,400 students registered, 116,466 advanced to cluster level, 29,182 qualified for block rounds, 680 reached district level, and Top 4 students per grade (Grades 2-5) represented the state at the national level.
The event was graced by eminent dignitaries including Mr. Nalini Ranjan, Assistant District Program Officer, Ramgarh, Jharkhand; Dr. Ravendra Tripathi, Coordinator – Olympiad, Rajya Shiksha Kendra (RSK), Government of Madhya Pradesh; Mr. Vikas Mahajan, Assistant Program Coordinator (Academic), District Dewas, Madhya Pradesh; and Ms. Satya Naidu, CSR Manager, Marico Limited. Their presence underscored the programme’s growing institutional importance and its transformative impact on English literacy in regional-language government schools.
Launched in 2012, Nihar Shanti Pathshala Funwala is a cornerstone of Marico’s education-focused CSR initiatives. The programme has partnered with government schools across Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan (Alwar), and during this year alone has benefitted over 12 lakh students and 1.25 lakh teachers. By strengthening foundational English literacy and classroom outcomes, the programme continues to empower underserved communities.
