Young Jaina Award began with the blessings and vision of Muni Shri Kshamasagar Ji. Over the years, it has honoured young Jain achievers while encouraging them to stay connected with humility, discipline, moral values and character.
Munishri Kshamasagar Ji Maharaj has always emphasised that career should go hand in hand with moral values and an impeccable character. Honesty, integrity and humbleness should be our core assets and strengths along with our intellectual skills.
He emphasised that higher education should inculcate simple, easy and systematic values in our personality. Positive thinking, sweet speaking, constructive activities and simple living should be undeniable aspects of our lifestyle. We should also learn the art and science of compassion and affection.
In every ceremony, Young Jaina Awardees take the oath to practise moral values like Dev Darshan and sacrificing meals after sunset as far as possible. That is how Young Jaina Award makes a difference in an individual, and every individual altogether practises the principle of Live and Let Live.
Each year has its own story, place, people and memories. This archive preserves the journey of YJA in a simple and readable format.
224 students were awarded.
In the first ceremony organised at Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Sunita Jain, Professor at IIT Delhi, was the Chief Guest. 224 students securing 75% and more marks in Class XII were bestowed with the Young Jaina Award 2001.
Shri Yogendra Jain of Nagpur, Maharashtra secured the first position with 93.5% marks.
1,050 students were awarded.
In the second function held at Jaipur, 1,050 Jain students were invited with 75% and more marks in Class X and Class XII. This also included students who were selected in IIT, CPET/PET and CPMT/PMT. Smt. Sarayu Daftary, renowned industrialist and social worker, was the Chief Guest of the ceremony.
Shri Dhiraj Jain of Pondicherry and Shri Darshak Shah of Gujarat secured first positions in Class XII categories. Shri Ujjawal Vijay Mahatme of Nagpur and Shri Aviral Jain of Nagpur secured first positions in Class X categories.
Ku. Priyanka Jain was awarded for her rare achievement of being selected for IIT-JEE.
1,025 students were awarded.
In the third ceremony held at Ramganjmandi, Kota, Rajasthan, 1,025 students were invited. Retired Professor Dr. Sunita Jain of IIT Delhi was the Chief Guest for this function.
Shri Chainmay Kothari of Jaipur secured the first position in Class X. Ku. Anthima Kasliwal of Pondicherry, Ku. Namrata Nirmal of Bangalore and Ku. Shashi Jain of Khanpur secured first positions in Class XII categories.
Jain Quiz, career counselling, Dev Darshan recognition and value-based sessions were important parts of the ceremony. About 100 economically weak Jain students were also awarded scholarships for higher studies.
1,427 students were awarded.
The fourth ceremony was held at Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh, where 1,427 students were awarded. Awardees were welcomed with the spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava.
Students were recognised for achievements in Science, Commerce, Arts, Class X, national-level sports, Kathak, medical entrance examinations and other competitive achievements.
The two-day ceremony included various events and counselling sessions that were found very beneficial for the awardees.
1,447 students were awarded.
YJA 2005 was organised in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, where 1,447 students were awarded. Dr. Pratibha Jain from the Department of History and Indian Culture, University of Rajasthan, and Shri Rajiv Dixit, social activist and Swadeshi proponent, were among the dignitaries associated with the programme.
Students were recognised across Science, Commerce, Arts and Class X categories. Senior awardees of YJA 2001 who completed graduation with high percentages were also honoured.
Awardees going home carried the preachings of Munishri as an asset with them, along with the award and certificate.
YJA continued through postal recognition. 1,198 students were awarded in 2006, and 1,488 students were awarded in 2007.
2,085 students were awarded.
YJA 2008 was organised at Padampura Ji, Jaipur, where 2,085 students were awarded. This was the first time YJA was organised in the physical absence of Munishri Kshamasagar Ji, yet his presence was deeply felt through his blessings and message.
The ceremony included Jin Poojan, Jin Bhakti, Munishri’s Pravachan through video, Jain Quiz and stream-wise career counselling sessions for awardees.
These activities reflected the core purpose of YJA: to connect academic achievement with spiritual awareness, discipline and moral growth.
During this period, YJA continued through postal recognition, and 388 students were awarded.
1,300 students were awarded.
The YJA ceremony was resumed in 2015 after a long break from the main physical ceremony. Following the path shown by Munishri Kshamasagar Ji, Maitree Samooh organised YJA 2015 at Pavaji.
1,300 students were awarded. Smt. Medhavi Jain, writer, spiritual and social worker, was associated with the programme as a dignitary.
1,917 students were awarded.
YJA 2016 was organised at Gommatgiri Ji, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where 1,917 students were awarded.
The main feature of the ceremony was the Entrepreneurship Summit, which included a mini workshop on entrepreneurship and alternative career options.
1,378 students were awarded.
YJA 2017 was organised at Sonagiri Ji, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, where 1,378 students were awarded.
Dr. Ratna Jain, Gynaecologist and Ex-Mayor of Kota, was among the dignitaries. A documentary on Munishri’s life and the keynote speech by Presidential Award winner Prof. Rajdeep Manwani were special highlights of the event.
1,350 students were awarded.
YJA 2018 was organised at Hastinapur Ji, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, where 1,350 students were awarded.
Smt. Abha Seth, social activist and member associated with SP Jain Gurukul, was the Chief Guest of the event.
1,506 students were awarded.
YJA 2019 was organised at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where 1,506 students were awarded.
The keynote speech by Presidential Award winner Prof. Rajdeep Manwani was one of the special highlights of the event.
During the pandemic period, YJA continued through postal recognition, and 1,509 students were awarded.
2,082 students were awarded.
After the pandemic break, Young Jaina Award 2022 was organised at Kundalpur Ji, Damoh. 2,082 students were awarded.
This was also an important year as the programme moved forward with wider participation and renewed enthusiasm after the pandemic period.
2,337 students were awarded.
YJA 2023 was organised at Hastinapur Ji, Meerut. 2,337 students were awarded, making it one of the significant years of larger outreach.
Famous writer, poet and social worker Dr. Prabha Kiran Ji was the Chief Guest for the award ceremony.
2,840 students were awarded.
YJA 2024 was organised at Kundalpur Ji, Damoh. 2,840 students were awarded, making it a milestone year with very strong participation from across the country.
1,800 students were awarded.
YJA 2025 was organised at Padampura Ji, Jaipur. 1,800 students were awarded as part of the continued journey of Young Jaina Award.
As part of the 25th year celebrations, a special get-together of previous awardees from Jaipur and nearby districts was also organised.