The first-ever Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman launched by JSPL foundation to recognise talent at the grassroots level, has garnered 358 entries from across the country. Maharashtra topped the list with 41, followed by Jharkhand at 40, Odisha at 39 and Delhi with 30.
Other States that have sent a sizeable number of entries for Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Samman include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Entries even came in from far-flung areas of the country like Ladakh, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura.
The regional jury meetings for the four regions have already taken place in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi respectively to shortlist the entries recieved.
Based on laid down parameters, 203 entries have been shortlisted out of the total number of 358.
The Pioneer group, owned and led by our editor-in-chief Dr Chandan Mitra (CMYK Printech Limited), has a well-rounded expertise in the publication business. The Pioneer is one of the oldest national papers in the country, a heritage that we are proud to have inherited and added to while keeping in sync with modern readership. The newspaper (which now has eight English editions and two Hindi editions) has been the first national paper to introduce colour editions, revolutionise layouts, conceptualise a separate Sunday edition and develop its news website. Over the years, we have diversified into other media platforms and opened a magazine and book division.

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS
Our first coffee table book was for Thapar University, documenting its history and modern relevance through a readable and pictorial spread. This was an achievement because we tested a new area, education. It allowed us to spread our wings in the coffee table book making format.

We completed a Coffee Table Book called The Edge of 50, focussing on top 50 entrepreneurs of Delhi, in collaboration with Invest Care Pvt Ltd in 2013. The same year we produced an international coffee table book for ARUNACHAL TOURISM which is expected to widen the tourist potential of this beautiful and naturally blessed state (Arunachal Pradesh) by presenting a unique visual narrative. A second edition has been reprinted.The other books are on the Drukpa lineage of Buddhism and on Uttar Pradesh being a template of modern India.