Mumbai's Plastic Recyclothon Wins Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Award

Mumbai-based citizen-led initiative Plastic Recyclothon has received the inaugural Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Awards 2026 for its significant environmental impact. The award was presented by the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) in partnership with the Cheistha Kochhar Foundation.

The Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Awards 2026 aim to honour the life and legacy of Cheistha Kochhar, a public policy professional who was committed to using behavioural insights and evidence-based policymaking to drive change. Along with Plastic Recyclothon, two other initiatives - ThinkZone from Odisha and NammaKasa from Bengaluru - received a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh to support their continued innovation.

Plastic Recyclothon is a unique initiative that allows people to donate their plastic waste, which is then collected by volunteers from designated drop locations at no cost. The collected plastic waste is then recycled and converted into useful amenities such as benches, pencil boxes, and garbage bins for public use.

The award ceremony was attended by prominent guests, including Dr. Ashok Lahiri, Hon'ble Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, who was the Chief Guest. Other notable guests included Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag (Retd.), former Chief of the Army Staff and former High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, and Prof. (Dr.) Pulkit Khanna, Dean of Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences.

During the ceremony, Dr. Ashok Lahiri emphasized the importance of designing public policies that take into account the actual behaviour of citizens. He highlighted the potential of behavioural audits, field experiments, and digital public infrastructure to test, measure, and rapidly scale interventions that work, making governance more citizen-centric, outcome-oriented, and fiscally efficient.

The Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Awards 2026 recognize and support initiatives that use behavioural insights to drive positive change. The awards are a testament to the impact that such initiatives can have on society and the environment.

Plastic Recyclothon's win is a significant recognition of the initiative's efforts to address the issue of plastic waste in Mumbai. The initiative's innovative approach to recycling and reusing plastic waste has the potential to make a significant impact on the environment and inspire others to take action.

The award is also a recognition of the importance of citizen-led initiatives in driving positive change. Plastic Recyclothon's success demonstrates the potential for citizens to come together and make a difference in their communities.

In conclusion, the Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Awards 2026 have recognized the significant impact of Plastic Recyclothon, a Mumbai-based citizen-led initiative. The award is a testament to the initiative's innovative approach to addressing the issue of plastic waste and its potential to inspire others to take action.

The win is also a significant milestone for the city of Mumbai, which has been actively working to address the issue of plastic waste. The recognition of Plastic Recyclothon's efforts is a step in the right direction and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts to address environmental issues.

Overall, the Cheistha Kochhar Nudge Awards 2026 have recognized the potential of behavioural insights to drive positive change. The awards have highlighted the importance of designing public policies that take into account the actual behaviour of citizens and have recognized the impact that citizen-led initiatives can have on society and the environment.