22nd May 2025: HCL Foundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCL Tech in India, announced a 45% increase in the annual outlay to ₹24 crore for its flagship HCL Tech Grant initiative that supports innovative rural development projects by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in India.
Starting FY26, the HCL Tech Grant will be open to applications for promising projects under the new Water category. The Environment category has been replaced with Biodiversity. The Education and Healthcare categories will continue as before.
Each winning NGO in these categories will receive ₹5 crore for four-year projects, while eight runner-up NGOs will get ₹50 lakh for two-year projects. The total grant for the FY26 edition will be ₹24 crore vs ₹16.5 crores in FY25.
The Water category aims to highlight the critical importance of water in sustainable development. HCL Foundation aims to drive impactful community-based solutions to address water scarcity and improve water management in rural areas. The Biodiversity category aims at focused interventions that bring about ecological biodiversity impact that can be seen and measured.
The new initiative will support projects that tackle various aspects of water management, including conservation, efficient usage, and sustainable practices. NGOs focusing on water-related issues are encouraged to apply for funding and support.
“Water is a precious resource. Its responsible management is crucial for reducing water stress in India. Through this initiative, we seek to partner with NGOs on innovative projects on water conservation. Also, there is a need to focus on Biodiversity enhancement across the country. Therefore, we have introduced two distinct categories under HCL Tech Grant, Water and Biodiversity, while we continue focusing on Education and Healthcare. The increase in total financial outlay further strengthens our commitment towards nation building,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCL Tech, and Director, HCL Foundation.
The HCL Foundation has awarded ₹152.8 crore (~$18.4 million) through the HCL Tech Grant initiative to scale high-impact projects. Through the HCL Tech Grant, it has supported 59 projects across 142 districts in 22 States and two Union Territories.
With these new categories, HCL Foundation has announced the 11th Edition of HCL Tech Grant, after 10 consecutive successful editions over 10 years. This year’s edition includes increased grant funding, more commitment for runners-up NGOs, and a higher focus on conservation efforts. The applications portal is already live. Help desks are active, and soon, the HCL Tech India Grant team will be conducting symposiums in various regions of the country.
For more details and to apply, visit https://www.hclfoundation.org/hcltech-grant.
HCL Tech is deeply committed to water stewardship through various innovative initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable water management and conservation. Platforms like Aqua Sphere provide a comprehensive solution that helps organizations monitor, measure, and optimize water usage using real-time data, enhancing water sustainability practices. HCL Tech has been recognized for its efforts in water stewardship, winning the National Water Award 2022 for its water conservation and management initiatives in India.
Through the HCL Foundation, the company has harvested 57.9 billion liters of water and rejuvenated over 200 water structures. Their projects include rainwater harvesting, river rejuvenation, and biodiversity enhancement along the Ganga’s catchment area. These initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15 (life on land).