ESET and Ashoka University Announce Winner of the 2026 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship in India
Ashoka University and ESET announced Urvashi Balasubramaniam as the 2026 recipient of the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship in India. Part of ESET’s global initiative to encourage more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity, the scholarship supports female students currently enrolled in undergraduate STEM degrees who demonstrate a strong passion for cybersecurity and technology. The scholarship awards Urvashi a one-time grant of USD 5,000, along with the possibility to undertake a summer internship with ESET, offering valuable exposure to cutting-edge global cybersecurity practices.
Urvashi studies Computer Science at Ashoka University and focuses on secure systems, cryptography, digital rights and the human impact of technology. She has earned Dean’s List honours, topped multiple courses, and leads software development at the Computer Science Society, where she has recruited and mentored 26 students across game development, machine learning, computer vision and hardware projects. She also conducts Women in STEM workshops, leads climate and sustainability programmes, and mentors students in computing and data science.
The award was presented at ESET Exchange 2026, a closed-door partner conference organised by ESET, by Dheeraj Sanghi, Dean of Student Affairs, Ashoka University, Santanu Chaudhury, Dean, Vachani School of Advanced Computing, Ashoka University, Mária Trnková, Chief Marketing Officer, ESET, and Parvinder Walia, President of the APAC Region at ESET.
“Cybersecurity has become foundational to economic growth, public trust and digital resilience. As India continues to advance its digital ambitions, the industry will need more skilled professionals who can think deeply, act responsibly and lead with purpose. Urvashi represents that promise, and ESET is proud to support her through this scholarship in partnership with Ashoka University,” said Parvinder Walia, President of the APAC Region at ESET.
Santanu Chaudhury, Dean, Vachani School of Advanced Computing, Ashoka University said, “As AI transforms the digital world, cybersecurity is becoming critical to ensure that innovation remains secure, responsible and ethical. It is encouraging to see more women entering and excelling in this field, bringing fresh perspectives to some of technology’s most complex challenges. We are delighted that Urvashi has been recognised with the 2026 ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. Her achievement reflects both the growing interest of Ashoka’s women students in advanced computing and their growing strength and expertise, and as such marks an important milestone in building a more inclusive cybersecurity ecosystem.”
On receiving the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship India 2026, Urvashi Balasubramaniam said, “Receiving the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship is a wonderfully affirming honour. I have had my fair share of ups and downs in college, and this scholarship’s recognition of my contributions and potential in STEM comes at a critical time when I am looking back at my contributions and planning my future academic journey. This scholarship will make a master’s degree in computer science far more accessible to me and open doors to greater opportunities for learning. Being a woman in STEM has always been an uphill battle, but it gets easier when you have a hand to hold. When there are so many systemic forces driving women away from STEM, every intervention, opportunity and recognition has a real measurable impact on women around the world. I look forward to extending my hand to many others.”
The partnership between ESET and Ashoka University was first announced in 2025, reflecting a shared vision to bridge the gender gap in cybersecurity and foster a more diverse and inclusive talent pipeline. Under this collaboration, Ashoka University facilitates the application process, ensuring a fair and transparent selection of the ESET Scholar.
Since its launch in 2016, the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship has supported over 45 women worldwide in pursuing careers in technology. The programme has expanded across markets including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., Singapore, India and Romania, continuing ESET’s global commitment to building a more inclusive and diverse cybersecurity workforce.
