Indore, The much-anticipated India’s Regional PR Awards (IRPRA) – 40 Under 40 returned with its fourth edition, successfully held as a virtual event on Saturday. The platform honored select PR professionals from across the country who, under the age of 40, have made a strong mark in the public relations industry through their exceptional work, innovative thinking, and strategic excellence.
The prestigious initiative aims to recognize emerging PR talent from regional India and provide them with national-level visibility. The winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising senior industry leaders and communication experts.
The program commenced with an insightful panel discussion on the theme “Regional Markets as Growth Engines: Why Brands Are Shifting PR Budgets Beyond Metro Cities.” The discussion highlighted how Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are rapidly becoming new centers of brand growth, with organizations increasingly relying on local strategies and strong regional PR networks.
This year, IRPRA – 40 Under 40 Awards were presented across five major categories, recognizing impactful work in brand building, rural communication, creative campaigns, healthcare communication, and startup PR. Along with 20 individual PR professionals, 20 PR agencies were also acknowledged for their outstanding contributions.
Speaking about the initiative, Pawan Tripathi, Organizer of IRPRA, said,
“IRPRA has always aimed to recognize talented PR professionals from regional India. The diverse participation from different parts of the country in this edition clearly shows that strong and impactful communication leadership is no longer limited to metro cities. Congratulations to all the winners.”
Under the Best Emerging PR Strategist category, professionals recognized for their strategic vision and planning included Nikhil Swami (Punjab), Prashant Bakshi (Gujarat), Honey K. Bhargava (Haryana), Rajesh Hingu (Gujarat), Swati Chakravarty (West Bengal), and Shraddha Bhattacharya (Mumbai, Maharashtra).
The Best Rural Area PR Campaign category honored Hamd Mohammad Ateeq Rahman Berlashkar (Assam) and Surbhi Chourasia (Madhya Pradesh) for impactful communication initiatives and community engagement in rural regions.
For innovative and successful campaigns in the entertainment sector, the Best Creative Entertainment Campaign awards were presented to Mansi Rathi (Delhi), Dhanashree Sharma (Delhi), Riktee Shah Panchal (Gujarat), Amey Ambarkar (Maharashtra), and Bijeta Tripathi (Odisha).
In the Best Healthcare Communication Campaign category, professionals recognized for building awareness, trust, and effective communication in the healthcare sector included Ravinder Bharti (Maharashtra), Anubhuti Srivastava, Ojasvi Sharma (Chandigarh), and Gurpreet Nongkynrih (Assam).
The Best PR Campaign for Startups category honored Shevani Thakur Gupta (Jammu & Kashmir), Madhupriya Sengupta (West Bengal), and Pabita Mishra (Odisha) for successfully implementing effective PR strategies for emerging startup brands.
Today, the IRPRA 40 Under 40 platform stands as a symbol of excellence in regional public relations, bringing forward professionals who are reshaping India’s communication industry through innovation, local insights, and purpose-driven storytelling.