Apollo Tyres, in collaboration with UNDP India, successfully hosted the 8th Environment and Nature Quiz Grand Finale 2025 in Chennai, an initiative aimed at inspiring the youth to understand the vital role of nature in everyday life and make informed choices to safeguard India’s biodiversity.
Twelve top teams from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Kerala battled it out after rigorous regional rounds. St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad emerged as the national champion, followed by Madras Christian College, Chennai as first runner-up and St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru as second runner-up.
The event also featured a thought-provoking discussion, “In Harmony with Nature – From the Earth, For the Earth,” where leading environmental experts emphasised the urgent need to conserve biodiversity and build a more sustainable relationship with the natural world.
Speaking on the occasion, Mita Banerjee, Principal Conservator of Forests and Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board, said “Forests give us clean air and climate stability, yet they are under severe pressure. Protecting biodiversity is not the job of Forest Department alone, we need communities, partners like Apollo Tyres and especially youth to act.”
Rinika Grover, Head, Sustainability and CSR, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “Through this platform, we aim to engage and empower the younger generation to understand, appreciate and act for biodiversity. Our collaboration with UNDP reinforces our shared commitment towards building a more sustainable and ecologically balanced future.”
Dr Ruchi Pant, Head, Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Biodiversity, UNDP India, said, “Our collaboration with Apollo Tyres on the 8th Edition of the Environment and Nature Quiz is a powerful example of how the private sector and development organisations can jointly inspire action. By engaging thousands of young minds, this initiative is helping build a generation that understands biodiversity not as a distant concept, but as a daily responsibility.”
This quiz is part of Apollo Tyres’ ongoing sustainability and community engagement initiatives, reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, education and youth empowerment.
UNDP India supports sustainable natural resource management by helping protect biodiversity, promote sustainable land and water use, and build institutional capacity for climate resilient and inclusive development. The organisation works with governments and communities to strengthen water governance, conserve ecosystems, restore degraded landscapes, and support nature-based livelihoods, especially for vulnerable and rural populations. Through this work, UNDP aims to safeguard ecosystems that sustain livelihoods and wellbeing, while advancing long term environmental resilience across the country.
