Theme: Empowering Young Changemakers – CSR for Social Innovation & Sustainable Development
The 13th National CSR Summit 2025, organized by Shikhar Organisation for Social Development in partnership with the UN Global Compact Network India, and supported by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, concluded with inspiring discussions and powerful insights from CSR leaders, industry experts, and social impact professionals. The summit emphasized India’s evolving CSR landscape, youth-led innovation, and the role of businesses in accelerating sustainable development.
The summit commenced with a distinguished inaugural Session featuring Prof. (Dr.) R. K. Suri, Director, Centre for Innovation, Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, IAS (Retd.), Former DG & CEO, IICA & Senior Advisor, Deloitte India, Armstrong Pame, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, GOI. The session was graced by Padma Jaiswal, IAS, Secretary, Government of UT of Puducherry, as the Chief Guest. The session set an inspiring tone for the day, underscoring the role of CSR-driven innovation, youth empowerment, and collaborative nation-building. Speakers emphasized how CSR initiatives in education, health, environment, and employment are transforming grassroots communities and acknowledged Shikhar’s enduring commitment to empowering young changemakers across India.
A panel discussion on CSR for Youth Entrepreneurship & Employment moderated Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Suri Summit Director, Director, Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, JMI Central University, explored pathways for enabling scalable models for youth entrepreneurship, skill development, and employability. Anupam Nidhi (Vedanta Group), Rajiv K. Chawla (Integrated Association of MSMEs), Satyajit Gupta (EXL Service), Shilpa Chaudhary (SAP India), Ritesh Sinha (Krishna Group), Sanchita Gairola (Vision360), Umang Pathak (ESG Services)
The second session, moderated by Dr. Somnath, Deputy Director of the UN Global Compact Network India, focused on CSR for Planet and People, addressed urgent global priorities such as climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and access to quality healthcare. Key Speakers were Arun Arora (Chetak Foundation), Sanjeev Kumar (Grasim Industries), Sindhu Sharma (Nxtra by Airtel), Prashant Gautam (SuperHuman Race), Dr. Karan Thakur (Apollo Hospitals Group), Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh (Logotrust Global Solutions)
The summit concluded with a distinguished Valedictory Session graced by senior leaders and experts who emphasized the need for deeper collaboration, measurable CSR outcomes, and youth-driven innovation.
The speakers appreciated the meaningful discussions held throughout the day and highlighted the growing importance of CSR-led social transformation, ethical leadership, and community engagement. The session closed with a collective commitment to advancing sustainable development across India.