India's corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending rose 17 per cent year-on-year to a record Rs 40,794 crore in FY2024-25, according to the Bharat CSR Performance Report 2026. The report said cumulative CSR investments by Indian companies have crossed Rs 2.61 lakh crore over the past decade, reflecting sustained growth in corporate-led social and environmental initiatives.
Released by consulting and research firm Fulcrum, the report said Maharashtra remained the largest recipient of CSR funding with Rs 8,631 crore during FY2024-25. Gujarat emerged as the fastest-growing CSR destination, recording a 68 per cent increase in investments compared with the previous financial year.
The report also highlighted that 1,012 new companies came under the CSR framework during the year, taking the total number of contributing companies to 29,546, up 9 per cent from a year earlier. Companies implemented 72,233 CSR projects across the country, a 21 per cent increase, with the average project size standing at Rs 56.47 lakh.
Education Gets Largest Share
Education attracted the highest CSR allocation at Rs 13,877 crore, accounting for 34 per cent of total expenditure. Healthcare followed with Rs 8,531 crore, representing 21 per cent of overall spending. Environmental sustainability received Rs 3,397 crore, registering the sharpest growth of 40 per cent year-on-year.
The report said 98 per cent of CSR expenditure, amounting to Rs 39,851 crore, was spent directly on social projects. The remaining 2 per cent, or Rs 943 crore, was transferred to government funds, marking a 6 per cent decline from the previous year.
The top 10 companies accounted for 17 per cent of India's total CSR expenditure, collectively spending Rs 7,123 crore. Reliance Industries led the list with CSR spending of Rs 1,309 crore, followed by HDFC Bank at Rs 1,039 crore and Tata Consultancy Services at Rs 949 crore. The gap between the top two corporate spenders widened to 26 per cent from 2.5 per cent in FY2023-24.
Parthesh Vyas, Co-CEO of Fulcrum, said the report reflected both the growth and imbalance in CSR spending, with Gujarat emerging as the country's fastest-growing destination. He said the state's CSR investment rose 68 per cent, significantly outpacing the national growth rate of 17 per cent.
Arun Mathai Marette, Co-CEO of Fulcrum, said CSR spending in India has grown by more than 300 per cent over the past decade, with an average annual growth rate of 15 per cent compared with GDP growth of around 7 per cent.
The report added that Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi and Tamil Nadu together received a significant share of total CSR expenditure. Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tripura continued to receive the lowest CSR funding due to limited corporate presence and geographical constraints. |
