Mumbai: Indian philanthropists donated a total of Rs 8,783 crore in FY24, marking a modest 4% increase from Rs 8,445 crore in FY23 and a significant 55% rise from Rs 5,623 crore in FY22, according to the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024.
Shiv Nadar retained his title as India’s Most Generous, contributing Rs 2,153 crore to philanthropic causes, representing nearly a quarter of the donations from the 203 business leaders on the Hurun list. Other major donors include Mukesh Ambani, with a contribution of Rs 407 crore, and Rohini Nilekani, who donated Rs 154 crore.
Krishna Chivukula emerged as the most generous new entrant, with a donation of Rs 228 crore to IIT Madras. Chivukula, who founded Indo MIM in Bengaluru, produces small, complex metal and ceramic components in high volumes, many of which are used in aircraft.
Emerging philanthropists include Zerodha founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, who together donated Rs 120 crore, and Susmita and Subroto Bagchi, who contributed Rs 179 crore, securing a position in the top 10.
Notably, Nadar’s donations amount to nearly Rs 6 crore a day, with a commitment of nearly $1 billion largely focused on education, a key priority for six of the top 10 donors.
The list also shows an increasing number of Indian philanthropists donating over Rs 100 crore annually—from just two in 2018 to 18 in 2024. Nandan Nilekani led the way in increased donations, contributing an additional Rs 118 crore this year. Harish Shah and the Signet Excipients family made an impressive leap in rankings, climbing 53 spots to 22nd with an annual donation of Rs 78 crore.
“The top 10 donors reflect a diverse landscape of Indian philanthropy, featuring first-generation entrepreneurs like Shiv Nadar and Adani, alongside legacy family businesses like Ambani, Bajaj, and Birla,” said Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher of Hurun. “Additionally, leaders like Nandan Nilekani and Subroto Bagchi, who have built successful enterprises, are now dedicated to giving back.”
To compile the list, Hurun Report surveys successful entrepreneurs, cross-references media sources, consults charitable foundations, analyzes CSR data from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and calculates donations based on individual ownership shares.
