YONO SBI 20 under 20 felicitates India’s most enterprising youngsters

Appreciating talent at any age is the need of the hour, especially in a time and age where finding talent has become much easier. SBI recently did their part in celebrating the young talent by felicitating them at the YONO SBI 20 under 20 awards. The awards were given away at a gala function at a plush venue in Bengaluru. YONO (You Only Need One) is the State Bank of India’s digital app that provides lifestyle and banking services.

Initiatives like YONO SBI 20 under 20, symbolises the legacy banks' endeavour to become a part of the lives of India's successful young achievers, and their admirable stories. This is in tandem with a rapidly evolving customer base that values convenience and mobility.

The process started four months ago. From an initial pool of 600 contenders, 100 names were shortlisted by process validators. An august jury further skimmed the list down to 60 names. These 60 nominees went through a public voting process and were awarded for their excellent contribution in their respective areas at this young and vibrant ceremony.


Over 1.7 lakh people voted for 60 nominations across 10 diverse categories. A total of 18 winners collected their awards in person; Hima Srushti and Rinku Hooda (disability champions), Zaira Wasim and Sunny Pawar (outstanding actors), Nishtha Sharma and Jasu Khan (performing artists), Pothunuri Laya and Akash Manoj (game changers), Rajvee Gandhi and Nihal Raj (social media influencers), Anish Bhanwala (sports champion), Nikhiya Shamsher and Mohammed Ali Hasan (student achievers), Zulieka Juliet Antao and Anubhav Wadhwa (sustainability pioneers), Sovesh Mohapatra (art and literature), and Shreya Ramchandram (global Indian).

Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati, the world’s youngest disabled patent holder, was given the special Jury’s Choice award. Bhati is the world’s youngest disabled patent holder who invented a six-player variant of chess at the age of 9. He earned a patent for his invention in 2012, making him the youngest patent-holder in India at that time. Besides circular chess, he has developed a ramp system enabling easy access to vehicles for the disabled. The young gun credits his passion for invention to his admiration of British physicist Stephen Hawking

Sparsh Shah (global Indian), Manu Bhaker (sports champion) and Sanya Runwal (art and literature) could not attend, but sent in their video acceptance speeches.

Suave actor Arjun Kapoor was the chief guest for the evening along with SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar, SBI MD Arijit Basu, Deputy MD Anuradha Rao, Chief Marketing Officer SBI Dinesh Menon, Mohandas Pai, veena maestro Dr. Suma Sudhindra, Arman Ali and Reeta Gupta who added gravitas to the event.

Taking the stage SBI Chairman, Rajnish Kumar said, “the sheer power and capability of India’s young achievers has been brought to the fore by YONO SBI 20 under 20.”

Social media influencer and YouTuber Mallika Dua, as well as leading actresses of Kannada cinema Sanjjana Galrani and Harshika Poonacha were also present to give away some of the awards.

Presiding over as chief guest, Arjun Kapoor said, “I have no words of advice for these trailblazing youngsters! I wish they would give me advice.”

Arjun Kapoor, who brought enthusiasm and his unique brand of honesty to the event, light-heartedly asked the chairman of SBI, for a ‘blank cheque’ in return for his encouragement to the winners.

The talented troupe of Ambi Subramaniam, Bindu Subramaniam, Mahesh Raghvan & Akshay Anantapadmanabhan; who call themselves the Thayir Sadam project, performed to the absolute rapture of the audience. It was an evening that heralded the arrival of the YONO generation; a cohort of youngsters that seizes opportunities; and excels in their fields.