Experts’ Corner

Most Indian cities do not plan for trees as infrastructure. Roads, flyovers, and buildings come first, and forests are mostly treated as decoration. But an urban forest cools a neighborhood, holds back air pollution, recharges groundwater, and gives people a place to relax. That is what the Government of India had in mind when it launched the Nagar Van Yojana in 2020, to build accessible city forests that boost biodiversity, cut heat islands, and get residents to feel ownership over green space. During a survey with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, I spent time in two of those urban forests: Nagar Van Naulakhi in Ujjain and City Forest Nagar Van in Sagar. They sit  more than 300 kilometers apart and

The Jury members evaluating the nominations for the CSR and BESG Awards India’s responsible business landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. The conversation is moving beyond what companies do and how much they spend towards a more fundamental question: What difference does responsible business actually make? This question was particularly relevant at the 13th National CSR & ESG Summit and Awards 2026, organised by CSR Times on 4 August 2026 at Le Méridien, New Delhi. Held around the theme “Role of Responsible Businesses for Inclusive Bharat,” the Summit brought together more than 500 delegates, while over 2,500 participants joined through live streaming. As a member of the Jury for the CSR Times and Bharat ESG & Sustainability Awards 2026, chaired

From Left Mr. Shiddalingesh Ballolli, Program Head, SBI Gram Seva, Mr. Ratnesh, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI), Antara Kapoor, Lead – Social Impact, PepsiCo India, Dr. Shabnam Asthana, Executive Editor India’s aspiration to become a developed nation is closely intertwined with the larger goal of building a society in which growth is inclusive, sustainable and equitable. As businesses increasingly recognize that their long-term success is linked to the well-being of communities and the environment, responsible business is emerging as a defining pillar of India’s development journey. The panel discussion was held during the 13th CSR & ESG Summit 2026 on 4 August 2026 at Le Méridien, New Delhi. focused on – “Role of Responsible Businesses for Inclusive

Overview The panel discussion “How CSR Can Drive Deep Science Innovations Across the Country,” hosted by FSID, brought together senior leaders from the technology, engineering, and CSR fraternity to deliberate on the growing role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in enabling deep science and deep-tech innovation in India. The session examined how CSR funding can move beyond conventional social-development interventions and support scientific research, innovation, academia-industry collaboration, technology commercialisation and long-term solutions to complex societal challenges. The discussion also highlighted the need for a stronger ecosystem connecting research institutions, innovators, corporates, CSR foundations, entrepreneurs and end-users, particularly to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. The session was moderated by Mr. Gopalakrishnan Nambi, Head – Outreach, Foundation for