Overview

The eighth edition of the State of CSR in India report, prepared by Sattva Consulting in partnership with India Data Insights, finds that corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending in India reached Rs 40,794 crore in FY 2024‑25, representing a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past ten years.

Distribution of CSR Funding

The analysis highlights a stark geographic imbalance. The five states with the highest multidimensional poverty receive only Rs 94 per capita in CSR funding, whereas the five states with the lowest need receive Rs 455 per capita. Bihar’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is nearly five times that of Maharashtra, yet Maharashtra enjoys approximately 19 times more CSR funding per capita. Between FY 2021‑22 and FY 2024‑25, Maharashtra accrued an additional Rs 3,381.9 crore in CSR contributions, compared with a modest Rs 292.5 crore for Bihar.

Sectoral Allocation

Education, healthcare, livelihoods and skilling, environment, and rural development together account for over 80% of total CSR allocations. While these sectors align with core development needs, the report notes that funding is heavily concentrated within specific sub‑sectors, limiting impact on emerging priorities.

Potential Re‑allocation Impact

The report estimates that redirecting an extra 5% of FY 2024‑25 CSR resources toward high‑need districts would triple the current funding those districts receive, creating significant headroom for addressing unmet development challenges.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Against the backdrop of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report finds that 33.3% of indicators are on track, 42.7% show limited progress, and 24% are worsening, underscoring the need for more targeted CSR deployment.

Commentary from Sattva Consulting

Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy, Co‑founder and CEO of Sattva Consulting, states 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 unlocking outcomes that extend beyond the mere provision of funds.

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) is an initiative of Sattva Consulting that consolidates public data across SDG practice areas into a unified platform, offering visualisations, interactive tools, and ready‑to‑use dashboards.