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The Himalayas as Living Laboratories: TERI’s Research-Led Pathways to Sustainable Mountain Development

October 29, 2026

Connecting scientific innovation, community livelihoods and sustainable enterprise across Uttarakhand The future of the Himalayas depends on whether ecological conservation can improve community prosperity. Climate variability, water stress, fragmented landholdings, vulnerable ecosystem and limited market access are daunting challenges of mountain livelihoods. Yet the region’s biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge offer valuable foundations for sustainable development. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires research-backed solutions that communities can adopt, enterprises can sustain and institutions can scale. At TERI’s regional centre in Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand research-led development is the driving force behind its engagement with the Himalayan region. Three distinct but complementary facilities anchor this work: Supi Farms/TRISHA advances agricultural research, biodiversity conservation and mountain livelihoods; Paharpani Research Centre translates these priorities into community

ESG in a Changing World From Responsibility to Resilience

October 23, 2026

Introduction: ESG in a Changing Business Landscape The business landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace. Climate risks, resource constraints, evolving regulations, investor expectations, technological disruption and growing public awareness are reshaping how organisations define success. In this environment, environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations can no longer sit at the margins of business strategy. They must inform how organisations anticipate change, allocate resources, manage risks and create lasting value. From my professional perspective, one of the most important shifts underway is the transition of ESG from a reporting exercise to a way of thinking and operating. Organisations that treat sustainability only as a compliance requirement may meet immediate obligations, but those that embed it into decision-making are better positioned

Beyond Preservation: How CSR Can Keep India’s Living Cultural Heritage Alive

October 17, 2026

Culture is more than a reflection of our past; it is a living expression of our identity, values, creativity and collective wisdom. Across India, traditional handicrafts, folk music, dance forms, oral storytelling, indigenous knowledge, local festivals, culinary traditions and community practices connect generations and strengthen the social fabric of our society. However, rapid urbanisation, changing lifestyles, economic pressures and declining opportunities for traditional practitioners are putting many of these invaluable cultural traditions at risk. The International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, observed globally on 17 October, offers an important opportunity to recognise this living heritage and renew our collective commitment to safeguarding it. Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2023, the Day highlights the importance of protecting the traditions, skills and

Financial Inclusion for Women Infographic

Financial Inclusion for Women Putting Women at the Centre of India’s Financial Growth

October 13, 2026

Financial inclusion has become one of the most formidable tools of social change in independent India. India has traversed a long way in the last decade to take millions of Indians who were financially excluded into the formal system. While financial inclusion can benefit every household, for women it is an enabler to earn, negotiate and even make decisions. But the next leg of financial inclusion has to be about more than account holders. It is about empowerment and the contribution that women can make as decision makers to India’s inclusive growth. # From Access to Agency Government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana have taken the banking sector to the doorstep of the excluded and the disenfranchised. The

Financial Literacy for Viksit Bharat: From Financial Inclusion to Financial Empowerment

October 12, 2026

बाप बड़ा ना भैया, सबसे बड़ा रुपैया “Baap bada na bhaiya, sabse bada rupaiya.” Forget father, forget brother; money matters most! This familiar Hindi saying captures, with a touch of humour, the enormous influence money exerts on our lives. Money provides security, expands choices and opens doors to opportunity. Yet, earning money and knowing how to manage and protect it are two very different things. A family may earn regularly but struggle to save; an entrepreneur may obtain credit without fully understanding its cost; and a digital banking user may lose hard-earned savings to fraud. The challenge, therefore, is not simply to bring people into the financial system, but to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to navigate

India in the Fast Lane: Driving the Electric Revolution

September 20, 2026

India is changing. And perhaps the most interesting thing about this change is that it is not happening in one sector alone. It is happening in our economy, our cities, our energy systems, our technology, and, most importantly, in the aspirations of ordinary Indians. I see this change around me every day. India is moving from an economy heavily dependent on fossil fuels towards one increasingly powered by renewable energy. By August 2026, India’s installed renewable-energy capacity had reached about 295.5 GW, including more than 168 GW of solar power. Uttar Pradesh, too, has seen a remarkable expansion in its economic base, with rising incomes, improving infrastructure and greater economic opportunity. India’s changing confidence is visible beyond our borders too.

India’s Clean Energy Transition: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Viksit Bharat

September 17, 2026

TERI and CSR Times hosted webinar on 16th September 2026, bringing together diverse perspectives on inclusive energy access, resilient power systems, green livelihoods and India’s clean energy ambitions India’s energy transition is no longer just about moving from conventional energy to renewables. It is about creating an energy ecosystem that is secure, affordable, resilient, and inclusive, while also ensuring that our economic growth remains sustainable. Setting the context for the discussion, Dr. Shabnam Asthana, Executive Editor, CSR Times, noted that the diversity of perspectives represented in the session offered an opportunity to look at India’s clean energy transition through multiple lenses. Opening the discussion, Dr. Amit Kumar Thakur, Associate Director–Social Transformation & CSR, TERI, emphasised that India’s clean energy journey

Corporate Giving and the Geography of Neglect: Why India’s Northeast Is Left Behind

September 13, 2026

Kiphire, a district in the hill state of Nagaland, sits at the edge of India’s development map in more ways than one. With some of the country’s lowest human development indicators and virtually no industrial presence, it represents exactly the kind of place that India’s corporate social responsibility framework was designed to reach. And yet, for five consecutive financial years, Kiphire recorded zero CSR expenditure. Not a rupee. In FY 2022–23, Pune district in Maharashtra alone received ₹1,053.09 crore in CSR funds, more than the entire Northeast region combined, which received only ₹638.78 crore across eight states, according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs CSR Portal. While Kiphire, with greater development need by almost every measure, received none. That is

Responsible Business in India: From Corporate Responsibility to Social Stewardship

September 11, 2026

The past decade has witnessed increased assertion around climate change, inequality, malnutrition, public health, and unemployment concerns no government can handle alone. Businesses provide resources, technology, talent, and last-mile reach that make them key partners in tackling them. A responsible business concedes its impact on people, communities, the environment and incorporates that understanding into its core activities rather than viewing it as compliance or altruism. Consumers are increasingly choosing brands that resonate with their values; investors consider ESG attributes; and younger employees seek genuine meaning. As a result, responsible business must become a significant driver of repute, competitiveness, and stakeholder trust. Shared value is not an adage but a disciplined practice: identifying opportunities where addressing a social challenge may simultaneously

Beyond ESG Reporting: Why Tomorrow’s Managers Must Learn to Turn Sustainability into Business Value

September 4, 2026

Corporates are increasingly integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their strategic and managerial decision-making. The objective is not merely to address environmental and social concerns, but also to create sustainable value for a wide range of stakeholders. However, as ESG becomes increasingly embedded in corporate strategy, managers need to ask a more fundamental question: Do investments in ESG create or destroy business value, and through which channels? This question has become particularly relevant in India, where sustainability reporting has moved from voluntary disclosure towards a more structured regulatory framework. In 2021, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), requiring the top 1,000 listed entities by market capitalisation to report

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