Experts’ Corner

As the financial year draws to a close, organizations across sectors turn their attention not only to financial performance but also to the social and environmental value they have created. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), once viewed as a peripheral activity, has now become a strategic imperative—embedded into the core of business operations. The close of the financial year (FY) is a critical moment for reflection, assessment, and accountability, where companies evaluate the real impact of their CSR initiatives and demonstrate transparency to stakeholders. Over the past decade, CSR has undergone a significant transformation. It is no longer confined to philanthropic donations or one-off initiatives. Instead, it is increasingly driven by measurable outcomes, long-term sustainability goals, and alignment with national and

“Din raat badalte hain, haalaat badalte hain, Saath mausam ke phool aur paat badalte hain.” Times have indeed changed. Human societies once lived in close harmony with nature, drawing sustenance from rivers, forests, and fertile land. With industrialization, however, the rhythm of life began to shift. Villages transformed into towns, towns into expanding cities, and skylines once defined by trees and open skies rose with concrete and glass. The pugdandi gave way to highways, and the jhonpadi looked up at towering skyscrapers. Even drinking water once freely available from wells and streams now arrives sealed in bottles on supermarket shelves. What we call “development” has reshaped not only our lifestyles and aspirations, but also our relationship with nature and with

Introduction: Growing urgency of climate change and global warming At the closing of the recent COP30 held in Belem in November 2025, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell declared that “….climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet”,  infusing a dose of cautious optimism in the ongoing global discourse on climate change. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, due to natural causes, or due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – as has been the case since the 1800s. The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.42°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s – prior to

Trust in what you buy is at the heart of product safety. We assume this trust every day – till something goes wrong! This itself underscores why product safety cannot be ignored. PRODUCT SAFETY IS not something we consciously dwell over in our daily life. We routinely plug in our phone chargers, cook on stoves, apply cosmetics, wear clothes, take medicines, sit on furniture and hand toys to children – all while assuming that the products will not harm us. Only until…… they end up compromising our safety, turning into sources of harm. At any given moment, someone somewhere is being injured by a faulty product, albeit quietly. Even as we read this, someone somewhere is paying the price for

With the advent of the NGO Day this year, and every year in the past, unfurls an opportunity for celebration of civil society. This is also an opportune time for us to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning of service, solidarity, and social responsibility. For me, personally, NGO Day is much more than a date on the calendar; it makes me reflect on the journeys undertaken, communities transformed, and the countless unsung heroes who quietly reshape the world every single day. My journey in the social development sector has taught me that NGOs are far more than institutions executing projects.  They are the animate entities that constitute the living, breathing bridges that bridge the gap between policy and people,

“Global Vision – Local Action – Lasting Impact.” Global frameworks adopted by the United Nations often set ambitious goals for peace, prosperity, human rights, and sustainability. Yet, their real impact depends on how effectively they are translated into local action. In India, Civil Society organizations (CSOs) play a pivotal role in bridging this global–local divide. They convert international commitments—such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate agreements, and human rights conventions—into tangible interventions that improve lives on the ground. From Global Vision to Local Context The adoption of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development marked a turning point in global development cooperation. The 17 SDGs provide a universal framework addressing poverty, education, health, gender equality, climate

Walk through the textile lanes of Tirupur or the diamond polishing hubs of Surat, and observe how the abstract phrase “global uncertainty” suddenly looks very real. In Tirupur, factories that once hummed six days a week are cutting back to four, rattled by the threat of steep U.S. tariffs. In Surat, diamond units are shuttering as export orders dry up. This isn’t just market noise; it is the sound of a fractured global order knocking on our doors. As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2026-27, the stakes have shifted. We are no longer just managing a post-pandemic recovery; we are building a shield against a world weaponized by trade wars and protectionism. With the U.S. 

India’s push toward a green economy is supported by key initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), the National Solar Mission under PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, electric mobility programs, and several state-level green energy projects. Together, these initiatives aim to balance economic growth with environmental protection, reduce climate-related risks, and build a more sustainable and resilient economy. However, translating this vision into on-ground outcomes requires sustained fiscal prioritization and clear implementation pathways. Budget 2026 highlights Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in line with the roadmap announced in 2025, committing an investment of ₹20,000 crore over the next five years, with a specific focus on five industrial sectors. While India has