India's Top Philanthropists Donated ₹10,380 Crore in 2025, Led by Shiv Nadar
In 2025, India's wealthiest individuals donated a record ₹10,380 crore, with Shiv Nadar leading at ₹2,708 crore for the fourth time in five years. The top ten philanthropists contributed ₹5,834 crore, showing a substantial increase and focusing predominantly on education. Notable donors included Mukesh Ambani and the Bajaj family, underscoring a growing culture of large-scale institutional giving.
The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 reveals that India’s top 191 philanthropists gave a combined ₹10,380 crore, marking an 85% increase over three years. Shiv Nadar and his family topped the list with ₹2,708 crore in donations, primarily supporting education and arts through the Shiv Nadar Foundation. This marks their fourth instance as India’s most generous donors. The top ten philanthropists together donated ₹5,834 crore, constituting 56% of total contributions, reflecting a broad surge in high-value philanthropy. Mukesh Ambani’s family ranked second with ₹626 crore, focusing on sectors like healthcare, rural transformation, and women’s empowerment through the Reliance Foundation. The Bajaj family maintained third place with ₹446 crore, mainly supporting rural development. The list also noted the rise in self-made and women philanthropists, with education remaining the predominant cause, receiving over ₹4,166 crore. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions saw companies like Reliance Industries exceed their mandated spending. Philanthropy in India is witnessing a shift towards institutionalized, strategic giving, fueled in part by liquidity events among entrepreneurs and increased social investment, signaling a maturing philanthropic ecosystem focused on long-term impact.
