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MUMBAI: Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL), a not-for-profit working in education and skilling, has today been listed on the Social Stock Exchange at the NSE. The listing was held with a bell-ringing ceremony, highlighting the next phase of its work with underserved youth.
The move is aimed at expanding access to education, digital skills, and clearer career pathways for students from government schools and rural communities, especially young women who often face additional barriers.
Alongside the listing, FUEL also announced its Social Stock Exchange issue, which will support scholarships for underserved girls and first-generation learners, while bringing more transparency and accountability into how social funding is deployed.
The event was attended by the Hon'ble Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, and the Hon'ble Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, along with stakeholders, corporate leaders and partners.
Commenting on this, Chandrakant Dada Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Higher & Technical Education, said, “The listing of FUEL on the Social Stock Exchange is a step towards strengthening access to education and higher learning opportunities for underserved youth. It can help enable students, particularly those from rural and government school backgrounds, to pursue their aspirations with appropriate support.
“The Social Stock Exchange provides a structured pathway to align capital with measurable social outcomes. Through this initiative, we aim to support students who face financial barriers to education,” said Dr. Ketan Deshpande, Founder and Chairman, FUEL
FUEL also shared a major announcement at the ceremony that the institute has been recognised as the FUEL Skilltech and Entrepreneurship University by the Maharashtra state government. The proposed university is intended to be a future-ready, industry-integrated establishment that combines innovation, employability, and academic achievement.
“FUEL (Friends Union for Energising Lives) is doing commendable work in the field of skill development and career guidance for students and youth. Even before receiving university status, the institution has reached a large number of young people through support from society and has contributed significantly to enhancing employability and self-employment opportunities. Such initiatives are essential for Maharashtra’s growth, and the government is committed to supporting institutions that focus on practical, skill-based education," added Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
With the support of Dr. Yusuf Hamied, Chairman of Cipla, the School of Science has been established. FUEL is now inviting partnerships to set up other schools, including Management, Future Skills, Commerce & Humanities, Technology, and Social Impact.
The ceremony also featured the recognition of CSR partners and stakeholders, along with a powerful address by a FUEL alumna, highlighting the transformative impact of education and skill development.
Photo captions
Image 1 L-R - Dr Ketan Deshpande, Ashishkumar Chauhan and Shri Chandrakanth Dada Patil
Image 2 L-R - Dr Ketan Deshpande with the beneficiaries for FUEL's initiativesImage 3 L-R - Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil, Dr Ketan Deshpande, Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha ringing the bell to mark FUEL's SSE listing
ABOUT FUEL
FUEL (Friends Union for Energising Lives) is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering underserved youth through education, employability, and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on STEM learning, future skills, and scholarship programs.
Recognised as a ‘Champion of Change’ by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, FUEL has built a strong track record of delivering large-scale, measurable social impact.
Impact Highlights:
- 1 million+ youth mentored through career guidance
- 2,93,768 students trained in future-ready skills
- 2,907 scholarships awarded to children of farmers and soldiers
- 78+ CSR partnerships with organizations including LTI Mindtree, bp India, Standard Chartered Bank, and Fujitsu
- USD 24 million+ mobilized towards social impact initiatives
FUEL continues to work across India, especially in rural and aspirational regions, creating sustainable pathways from education to employment for first-generation learners.
