India’s wealthiest are giving bigger donations than ever, with a clear focus on education and social impact. According to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025, total contributions by the country’s top philanthropists rose to ₹10,380 crore in 2024–25, up 85% over three years.
Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies, tops the list, donating ₹2,708 crore this year, around ₹7.4 crore per day. Over the past five years, Nadar and his family have contributed more than ₹10,120 crore, mainly through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which supports education and social development.
Mukesh Ambani and family are second, giving ₹626 crore, largely through the Reliance Foundation, for healthcare, rural development, and education. Gautam Adani donated ₹376 crore, followed by Nandan Nilekani with ₹304 crore. Other top donors include the Hinduja family (₹298 crore), Rohini Nilekani (₹204 crore), India’s leading woman philanthropist, Sudhir and Samir Mehta (₹189 crore), and Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla (₹173 crore).
The top 25 donors have contributed nearly ₹50,000 crore in the past three years, averaging about ₹46 crore per day. Education remains the largest focus, followed by skills development and community healthcare.
Experts say the rise in structured philanthropy shows that India’s wealthy are increasingly aiming for long-term social impact, rather than one-off charity. By using foundations and institutional channels, donations are becoming more transparent, measurable, and aligned with national development goals. Large-scale contributions like these could play a crucial role in strengthening India’s education, healthcare, and research systems.
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