Copyright news18
India’s wealthiest families are giving back more than ever. The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 has revealed that the country’s leading philanthropists collectively donated Rs 10,380 crore in FY2025, marking an 85% jump compared to three years ago. The list, released jointly by EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Report India, identifies 191 philanthropists, including 12 new entrants, who each contributed over Rs 5 crore during the year. The surge reflects a growing culture of high-value giving, with the number of Indians donating more than Rs 100 crore rising from just two in 2018 to 18 in 2025. Shiv Nadar Tops the List Once Again With an annual donation of Rs 2,708 crore, Shiv Nadar, 80, founder of HCL Technologies, and his family retained the title of ‘India’s Most Generous’ for the fourth time in five years. Nadar’s daily giving of Rs 7.4 crore underscores his long-standing commitment to education and social development. Mukesh Ambani Donates Rs 626 Crore Following him is Mukesh Ambani & family, 68, who secured the second position with donations worth Rs 626 crore. Ambani’s Reliance Industries also exceeded its CSR mandate, contributing Rs 1,309 crore, Rs 261 crore more than required under law. Infosys Co-founders Set a Philanthropy Record The Infosys family, comprising co-founders Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, K. Dinesh, along with Rohini Nilekani and Kumari Shibulal, collectively donated over Rs 850 crore this year. Their combined giving averaged more than Rs 2 crore a day, marking the largest philanthropic contribution from a single corporate group in India’s history. Among women philanthropists, Rohini Nilekani, 66, led with donations worth Rs 204 crore, making her the most generous woman in India this year. Ranjan Pai Joins the Top Five Marking a new milestone in personal giving, Ranjan Pai, chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), donated Rs 160 crore this year. Following his major stake sale to Temasek Holdings, Pai entered the Top-5 most generous Indians, reflecting a shift from wealth creation to purposeful giving. New Entrants and Rising Donors The most generous new entrant this year is Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor, who donated Rs 20 crore. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dangi and Alpana Sanjay Dangi made the biggest leap in rankings, climbing 115 spots to 47th position with a donation of Rs 32 crore. The Harish and Bina Shah family also saw a significant rise in giving, donating Rs 137 crore, up 77% from the previous year, earning them the 16th spot. Key Trends in Philanthropy Hurun’s analysis shows that the average donation per philanthropist increased from Rs 43 crore in 2024 to Rs 54 crore in 2025. The threshold to enter the Top 25 now stands at Rs 70 crore, up 180% since 2014. In the Top 10 list, the entry bar has more than doubled from Rs 74 crore in 2020 to Rs 173 crore in 2025, underscoring the surge in large-scale philanthropy. Philanthropists are increasingly institutionalising their giving: 104 individuals have set up foundations, while 88 channel their donations through NGOs. Education remains the most favoured cause, attracting Rs 4,166 crore from 107 philanthropists, followed by healthcare and rural development. Industry and City Trends The pharma sector accounts for the largest share of philanthropists at 16%, followed by software and services, automobile, and chemicals and petrochemicals (8% each). Geographically, Mumbai leads with 28% of the philanthropists, followed by New Delhi (17%) and Bengaluru (8%). A Growing Culture of Giving EdelGive Foundation CEO Vidya Shah noted that the 2025 list highlights a “maturing sense of purpose-led wealth in India”, as more entrepreneurs embrace philanthropy as part of their legacy. Hurun India’s Managing Director Anas Rahman Junaid added that the “sharp rise in Rs 100-crore-plus donors shows India’s billionaires are increasingly viewing philanthropy as a parallel to entrepreneurship, a way to create lasting social impact”. Top Philanthropic Families in India 2025 Shiv Nadar & family: Rs 2,708 crore Mukesh Ambani & family: Rs 626 crore Nandan Nilekani & Rohini Nilekani: Rs 499 crore (combined) Hinduja family: Rs 390 crore Ranjan Pai: Rs 160 crore Azim Premji: Rs 152 crore Harish & Bina Shah: Rs 137 crore Kris Gopalakrishnan & family: Rs 132 crore K. Dinesh & Kumari Shibulal: Rs 128 crore Adar Poonawalla & family: Rs 112 crore. Meanwhile, Nikhil Kamath, 39, of Zerodha, is the youngest philanthropist for the fourth time in the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy list 2025.
