In a record-breaking year of benevolence, 119 Indian philanthropists donated Rs 8.445 crore, with education leading as the most favoured sector
In a remarkable demonstration of benevolence, 119 Indians stepped forward to contribute a sum of Rs 5 crore or more during the fiscal year spanning April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. This heartwarming surge in charitable giving was unveiled in the recently released EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023.
Shiv Nadar, the visionary behind HCL Technologies, topped the list as the most generous philanthropist. Nadar's extraordinary contribution of Rs 2,042 crore throughout the year averaged a jaw-dropping Rs 5.6 crore per day.
The philanthropists featured on the list collectively donated an impressive Rs 8.445 crore during the year, marking a staggering 59% increase compared to the previous fiscal, which featured only 108 individuals.
Azim Premji of Wipro and Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, followed Shiv Nadar on the list, contributing Rs 1,774 crore and Rs 376 crore to various charitable causes.
A notable addition to the philanthropy list was Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, who secured the 12th position with a substantial donation of Rs 110 crore. He is the youngest philanthropist to feature on the list.
Rohini Nilekani of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies stood out as the most generous woman philanthropist, occupying the 10th spot with a commendable donation of Rs 170 crore. Following her, Anu Aga and Leena Gandhi secured the 40th and 41st positions, each contributing Rs 23 crore. A total of seven women philanthropists were recognised in the list.
The report also highlighted the significant spike in individuals making substantial contributions, with 14 donors surpassing the Rs 100 crore mark, compared to just six in the previous year. Additionally, 24 individuals contributed over Rs 50 crore, doubling from the 12 donors in the last year, and an impressive 47 individuals donated more than Rs 20 crore.
The philanthropic sector most favoured by donors was education, with 62 philanthropists collectively contributing Rs 1,547 crore. Arts, Culture, and Heritage followed closely, with donations totaling Rs 1,345 crore, and healthcare received Rs 633 crore in contributions. The city of Mumbai led the philanthropic charge with 39 individuals, followed by New Delhi with 19 and Bengaluru with 13.
Among the other notable philanthropists in the top 10 were Kumar Mangalam Birla, Gautam Adani, the Bajaj family, Anil Agarwal, Nandan Nilekani, and Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla. However, it's important to note that while Indian philanthropy remained robust, the total donations in FY23 were slightly lower than the remarkable figures of Rs 11,984 crore in FY20 and Rs 14,755 crore in FY21.