Bhubaneswar, January 11: The mother of Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar expressed her joy upon learning that her son had been honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.
Ravi Kumar, originally from Berhampur in Ganjam district, was among 27 members of the Indian diaspora to receive the award on Friday, the concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention.
The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
Notably, Ravi Kumar is the only recipient from Odisha to be recognized with this esteemed honor.
Ravi Kumar S is CEO of Cognizant, a leading global technology company.
After receiving a prestigious award, Ravi Kumar posted on ‘X’ . "I am deeply honored to receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award," said Ravi Kumar S, CEO, of Cognizant. "This recognition is a reflection of Cognizant's steadfast commitment to India's growth story. With nearly 70% of our 340,000-strong global workforce based in India, we are focused on advancing AI-first capabilities, driving innovation, and reinforcing India’s position as a global leader in digital talent.”
Who is Ravi Kumar S?
Ravi Kumar has begun his distinguished career as a nuclear scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center of India. His dedication to empowering both current and future talent for the jobs of tomorrow through comprehensive skilling has been a cornerstone of his career. He is also a strong advocate for social and economic mobility, championing programs that elevate education, upskilling, and the empowerment of women, especially through public-private partnerships.
Under Ravi’s leadership, Cognizant launched the groundbreaking Synapse initiative in 2024, aiming to train one million people globally in emerging technologies by 2026, with a special emphasis on AI and a focus on India. The initiative has already reached over 275,000 individuals. Synapse builds on Cognizant’s longstanding commitment to economic mobility, supported by over $70 million in philanthropic funds through 117 grants to 77 organizations globally.
For the past three decades, Cognizant has been integral to India’s growth story and is the second-largest multinational employer in the Indian technology sector. Additionally, the company, through its Foundation in India and employee-volunteering program – Cognizant Outreach, has been dedicated to uplifting underserved communities and improving everyday lives.
Ravi was named CEO of Cognizant in January 2023 and joined the board of directors for the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in 2024.
