The Group’s growth over seven decades has been accompanied by a continued commitment to social welfare. Through My Best Deeds, its umbrella for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and the Ashok Malhotra Charitable Trust, MBD Group has supported several causes, including girl-child education, access to learning through Love to Learn, empowerment of specially abled children through Ashok Karya, disaster relief, environmental conservation and support for underserved communities.
Commenting on the occasion, Satish Bala Malhotra, Chairperson, MBD Group, said, “Seventy years is a landmark in the journey of MBD Group and a reflection of the strong foundation laid by our founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra. Our journey has always been about building institutions for the long term and growing without losing sight of the people and communities connected with us. The 70th Establishment Day is a moment to recognise that journey and the many people who have contributed to it over the years.”
Education has remained central to MBD Group’s journey and continues to shape its vision for the next generation. As the education sector has moved from traditional publishing towards technology-enabled and experiential learning, the Group has expanded its efforts to improve access to emerging learning opportunities, particularly for students with fewer resources.
Through initiatives such as Love to Learn and Robotics Lab on Wheels, students in budget schools are receiving hands-on exposure to robotics, coding, the Internet of Things (IoT), automation and emerging technologies. The Group’s AI-STEAM initiatives are also introducing students to artificial intelligence and future-ready learning.
In 2026, MBD Group launched the AASOKA Science Kit initiative, targeting practical science learning for 25,000 students across 400 schools. Its focus on accessible, experiential education also extends to Robotics Lab on Wheels, which takes technology-based learning directly to schools. The Group aims to reach 1,000 schools and one lakh students over the next five years, reflecting its broader objective of making future-ready learning more accessible.
Together, these initiatives are intended to equip young people with the skills, confidence and exposure needed to solve problems, innovate and contribute to a changing society.
The AI-STEAM Lab Championship, held on September 28 at MBD House, provided a recent example of this approach. The Championship brought together four students each from 16 schools, selected from among the many schools that participated, to develop and present technology-led solutions to real-world challenges. The event carried a prize pool of ₹3.25 lakh.
Beyond being a standalone competition, the Championship gave students an opportunity to apply the practical knowledge they had gained through sustained, hands-on learning and demonstrate how access to emerging technologies can build confidence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “Education has been an integral part of MBD Group’s journey and continues to shape the way we think about the future of youth. From our early years in publishing and learning resources, the education landscape has evolved significantly with technology, and MBD has continued to evolve with it. Through Love to Learn and our other initiatives, we want to make emerging technologies and experiential learning more accessible to students across communities, particularly those who may have fewer opportunities to access them.”
Lavi Public School, Ghevra, New Delhi, the winner of the MBD AI-STEAM Championship, said, “Lab on Wheels gave us the opportunity to understand robotics by actually working with the kits, building things and testing our ideas. The MBD AI-STEAM Championship was a chance to take everything we had learnt and put it into practice. The biggest takeaway has been the confidence to build something ourselves and see that our ideas can become real solutions.”
Alongside education, the well-being of people and communities remains an important part of MBD Group’s broader social responsibility approach. Over the years, its initiatives have extended to mental well-being, physical fitness, community participation, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and outreach to underserved communities.
Through the Ashok Karya framework and its wider CSR efforts, the Group continues to focus on supporting healthier and more resilient communities as part of its broader social responsibility commitments.
Its association with Run Yodha 2026 is a recent example of this approach. Held on September 27, the marathon brought employees together to encourage healthier, more active lifestyles while supporting awareness around hunger. The initiative reflects the Group’s view that well-being extends beyond individual events and involves fostering a culture that encourages people to care for their physical and mental health and participate in causes beyond the workplace.
Sonica Malhotra Kandhari, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “As MBD Group marks 70 years, our focus remains on building on the values that have guided us through our journey while responding to the needs of a changing India. The well-being of our people and communities is an important part of that responsibility. Whether through initiatives that encourage physical and mental well-being, create access to learning or give young people exposure to new technologies, we want our efforts to create meaningful and lasting opportunities. Run Yodha is one such example, but our larger commitment extends well beyond any single initiative.”
As MBD Group enters its eighth decade, it plans to build on its legacy while responding to the changing needs of people, businesses and communities. Its future direction continues to connect its roots in education and community development with opportunities in technology, learning, well-being and innovation.
The Group’s 70th Establishment Day marks not only a milestone in its business journey but also a reaffirmation of its stated commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for future generations.
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