The Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards have emerged as a prestigious platform celebrating people, businesses, and institutions dedicated to a sustainable future. As environmental consciousness becomes increasingly vital in today's world, this platform brings together distinguished jury members from various industries to recognize, judge, and award the changemakers.
Rajneesh Sareen: A Critical Voice at the Ecopreneur Awards 2026
Rajneesh Sareen, Programme Director for the Sustainable Buildings and Habitat Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has joined the jury panel. His work addresses a pressing question: how to keep rapidly expanding cities livable on a warming planet. He focuses on practical solutions for energy-efficient buildings and smart water management.
Sareen's understanding of urban environments makes him a valuable addition to the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards 2026 jury. The awards spotlight startups, organizations, and individuals making tangible environmental impact across multiple sectors. Having Sareen on the panel ensures that celebrated ideas are not just ambitious but also measurable, scalable, and capable of driving real-world change.
With training from the prestigious School of Planning and Architecture, Sareen has experience working at the British High Commission, the US Embassy, WWF-India, and IRG Systems South Asia before anchoring at CSE. He is also an IEMA-certified advanced environmental systems auditor. His work involves decoding carbon footprints, promoting green construction, and managing construction waste—critical issues given the scale of urbanization today.
Other Jury Members
Alongside Rajneesh Sareen, the distinguished jury panel includes:
- Blossom Kochhar, clean beauty expert
- Bhupinder Bhalla, IAS, former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Peepal Baba, Founder and Managing Trustee of Give Me Trees Trust
- Ritu Beri, renowned designer and sustainability advocate
This diverse group brings expertise from environmental policy, renewable energy, grassroots conservation, sustainable design, and green entrepreneurship, representing leaders driving India's sustainability agenda.
Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards 2026
The awards encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs who believe profitability and sustainability can coexist. From startups experimenting with clean technologies to established firms redesigning operations with environmental goals, the initiative highlights businesses creating measurable impact rather than just green branding.
The Ecopreneur Awards feature 25 categories of sustainable innovation, including:
- EcoTech & Climate Innovation
- Sustainable Mobility & EV Ecosystem
- Circular Economy & Recycling
- Water Conservation & Management
- Sustainable Fashion & Textiles
- Women-Led Green Enterprises
- Youth-Led Climate Action
Recognition also extends to large organizations implementing enterprise-wide sustainability transformations and individuals with long-standing environmental leadership.
Getting through the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards requires more than eco-friendly buzzwords. The expert jury evaluates every entry from multiple angles, including innovation uniqueness, business model strength, scalability, and actual measurable impact on the planet and society.
To nominate yourself for the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards, click here. Get the latest lifestyle news and trends. Download the TOI App.
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