The word "Buniyaad" is derived from Persian, meaning "foundation" in English. As the name suggests, it aims to strengthen the foundation of our society by enhancing human capital at the grassroots level. Buniyaad India, a participatory development agency, endeavors to empower people to shape their future through access to quality education. The main objectives of Buniyaad India are to create awareness of the value of quality education and serve as a catalyst for promotion.

Established in 2014 under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Waheed Khan, former Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information of UNESCO, and Dr. Noor Mohammad IAS (Retired), along with Zubair Ahmad, Managing Director of Cadiz Pharmaceuticals, and Sarvajeet PCS, and Prof. Zahid Hussain (JMI), Buniyaad is a community educational initiative launched in response to the declining quality of education in rural schools. It is a low-cost program managed by local youth and funded by local communities on a voluntary basis.

Buniyaad's main interventions include an annual Talent Search Examination, career counseling, guidance, and information sharing. The Talent Search Examination, initiated in 2014, aims to promote quality education in rural areas. Students from over 100 schools participate, and based on their performance, both individual students and schools are ranked. The ranking system serves to highlight hard work and excellence, motivating students and schools. Over the past seven years, the difficulty level of the question papers used in the Buniyaad test has consistently improved, now comparable to any all-India school-level test. We are pleased to report that students have excelled.

The Buniyaad test distinguishes itself from other competitions/exams in India by being designed as a platform for schools to perform well in subsequent competitions and entrance tests. The test aims to bring about systemic change, ensuring that even schools with lower rankings significantly improve. The improved standards have become a challenge for non-participating urban and rural schools to compete with in the coming years.

Only five students per class per school are permitted to appear in the Buniyaad Test. Consequently, some students may not be able to participate if they are not among the top five selected by schools. However, those who work hard throughout the year to secure a place in the top five experience improved performance levels and are likely to excel in other prestigious tests.

Over the last six years, we have witnessed instances where students from lower-ranked schools and those who worked diligently for the Buniyaad test but did not make it into the top five have performed exceptionally well in other prestigious tests and entrance exams.