Overview

India’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending reached Rs 40,794 crore in FY 2024‑25, reflecting a 15 % compound annual growth rate over the last ten years, according to the eighth edition of Sattva Consulting’s State of CSR in India report.

Sector Allocation

The report shows that education, healthcare, livelihoods and skilling, environment, and rural development together account for over 80 % of total CSR allocations, indicating a concentration of funds in these core development areas.

Geographic Disparities

A stark imbalance exists across states: the five states with the highest multidimensional poverty receive only Rs 94 per capita in CSR funding, compared with Rs 455 per capita in the five states with the lowest need. Bihar’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is nearly five times that of Maharashtra, yet Maharashtra receives approximately 19 times more CSR funding per capita.

State‑Level Funding Trends

Between FY 2021‑22 and FY 2024‑25, Maharashtra accrued an additional Rs 3,381.9 crore in CSR contributions, whereas Bihar saw a modest increase of Rs 292.5 crore over the same period.

Potential Reallocation Impact

The analysis estimates that redirecting an extra 5 % of FY 2024‑25 CSR resources to high‑need districts would triple the amount of funding those districts currently receive, highlighting significant headroom for more equitable distribution.

Commentary from Sattva Consulting

Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy, Co‑founder and CEO of Sattva Consulting, stated that while CSR has introduced scale and predictability to development financing, “addressing India’s persistent challenges requires greater agility in how this capital is deployed. Corporate philanthropy cannot remain static in its approach. It must continuously reassess where it can make the greatest difference, directing capital towards critical gaps where regions have been unable to break inertia and other forms of capital are less likely to flow.”

Recommendations

The report urges companies to leverage partnerships, innovation, and technology to transform CSR into a multiplier of impact, thereby achieving outcomes that extend beyond the direct effect of funding alone.

About the Authors

Sattva Consulting is a global impact consulting firm based in India, active since 2009, working with businesses, civil society, and governments to drive large‑scale societal impact. India Data Insights (IDI), an initiative of Sattva Consulting, consolidates public data across SDG practice areas into a unified platform offering visualisations, interactive tools, and ready‑to‑use dashboards.

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