Experts’ Corner

SPEECH BY SHRI NITIN GADKARI AT THE 12TH NATIONAL CSR SUMMIT 2025 First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone on this 12th National Corporate Social Responsibility Summit. This is a law that has been very helpful in changing the socio-economic picture of our country for the past many years. It is a part and parcel of society; what we earn from our society, we should return to it, which was the basic principle of this law. We have a song called “Chalo jalaye deep waha abhi abhi andhera hai.” There are many sectors in our society where people are socially, economically, and educationally backwards. We can change their lives with our positive efforts. I have been working in

Over the past decade, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has evolved remarkably— from sporadic acts of corporate goodwill to a legally mandated mechanism, and now towards becoming a powerful force in nation-building. It’s no surprise, then, that the theme of the CSR Times Awards 2025, “The Role of CSR in Mission Viksit Bharat by 2047”, sparked vibrant discussion among policymakers, corporate leaders, and development practitioners. This is not a nominal figure. In FY 2023– 24 alone, according to the National CSR Portal, approximately `34,908.75 crore was spent by nearly 27,200 companies. These investments spanned critical sectors such as education, healthcare, rural development, social welfare, sports, and the environment sectors, essential for India’s leap from a developing nation to a

The panel discussion on “Role of CSR in Mission Viksit Bharat by 2047” convened eminent leaders from industry and social sectors to deliberate on how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be a transformative force in realizing India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The session, moderated by Dr. Somnath Singh, provided critical insights into leveraging CSR beyond compliance to create large-scale, sustainable, and inclusive development impacts. Dr. Singh opened the discussion by emphasizing that Mission Viksit Bharat 2047 is not merely a government aspiration but a collective national mission requiring active participation from businesses, civil society, and communities. CSR, he stressed, must evolve into a strategic enabler of social change, environmental resilience, and economic empowerment. He said “Mission

The panel discussion on “Role of CSR in Mission Viksit Bharat by 2047” convened eminent leaders from industry and social sectors to deliberate on how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be a transformative force in realizing India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The session, moderated by Dr. Somnath Singh, provided critical insights into leveraging CSR beyond compliance to create large-scale, sustainable, and inclusive development impacts. Dr. Singh opened the discussion by emphasizing that Mission Viksit Bharat 2047 is not merely a government aspiration but a collective national mission requiring active participation from businesses, civil society, and communities. CSR, he stressed, must evolve into a strategic enabler of social change, environmental resilience, and economic empowerment. He said “Mission

As India ascends the ranks to become the third-largest economy in the world, it faces a paradox: impressive GDP growth coexists with underwhelming performance in key social development areas. During the recently concluded 12th National CSR Summit, the panel discussion on the “Role of Social Entrepreneurs and Organisations in Nation Building,” moderated by Mr. K C Sreenath – Development Communication Consultant – had the experts deliberating on this disconnect, highlighting the role of grassroots efforts, CSR initiatives, and policy- level interventions in bridging this gap. According to the SDG Report 2025, India ranks 99th globally in social development, despite climbing nine places since the previous year. This reflects progress, but also reveals how much work lies ahead — particularly in

India’s industrial landscape is changing. Smokestacks, while once the harbinger of industrial success, today it is smart systems and green sensors that mark industry progress. Industry 4.0, the convergence of digital, physical, and biological technologies, is not just revolutionizing manufacturing; it is sparking an eco-industrial renaissance. Going forward, this change cannot be undermined and will impact all platforms manufacturing, whether it is big, small or medium units. The Great Indian Paradox: Growth versus Green India’s Manufacturing sector has emerged with a GDP contribution of 17% and is rising as a global player, comprehending diversity and complexity. Equally, as a country, it has struggled for decades over a paradigm problem: how to industrialise quickly, yet keep environmental damage to a minimum.

Sustainability challenging GDP Growth “India is set to be the main engine of global economic growth in 2025 and 2026” says World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Chief Economists Outlook report. IMF projects the GDP growth rates for these years to be 6.2% and 6.3% respectively. These numbers pale in comparison to images of Chinese GDP growth of early 2000s. China joined WTO in 2001 and grew at an average growth rate of around 10% till the 2008 Global Financial crisis. World changed significantly since then. Green growth desires have slowed the economies across the globe. In 2010, China reclaimed 10% GDP growth but by then it had also achieved the ‘dirty  nation’ tag given its high carbon emissions. By 2015, China

“Pṛthivī śāntirāntarikṣaṁ śāntiḥ… śāntir eva śāntiḥ, sā mā śantir edhi” (May there be peace on Earth, in the sky, in the waters, and in all creation…) — Shanti Mantra, Yajurveda. Long before climate negotiations and carbon metrics, Indian thought envisioned a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature. Today, as climate disruptions escalate across the globe, this ancient wisdom finds urgent relevance in our collective quest for sustainability. At COP26 in Glasgow, India pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070—a bold commitment that reflects not only international responsibility but also a civilizational ethos rooted in ecological balance. This pledge comes at a time when India is confronting rising temperatures, shifting monsoons, coastal vulnerabilities, and mounting pressures on natural resources. With

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India are going green—and in a big way. From solar-powered street lights in remote villages to smart irrigation systems for farmers, these government-backed companies are showing how technology can be a powerful tool for social good. The best part? They’re doing it not just as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but with a genuine desire to make life better for people and the planet. Let’s take the example of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a small village near Varanasi, IOC has set up solar-powered study lamps for schoolchildren who had no access to electricity. “Earlier, we had to study under a dim kerosene lamp. Now our house has solar light. I can study

As the global community grapples with the growing urgency of climate change, countries like India find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. The challenge lies in sustaining economic development while simultaneously taking decisive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Being the third-largest carbon emitter in absolute terms, yet maintaining one of the lowest per capita emissions globally, India’s role in the global climate narrative is both unique and significant. The concept of carbon emission amendment—referring to the ongoing revision and strengthening of laws, technologies, and policies to manage and reduce emissions—has become central to India’s climate policy evolution. India’s emission profile is largely shaped by its dependence on coal for energy, industrial activities such as steel and cement production, expanding transportation