New Delhi : FICCI has recognised leading corporations across public and private sectors for their outstanding corporate social responsibility initiatives at its 21st CSR Awards on 6th August. celebrating organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to India’s inclusive development agenda.
NTPC Limited claimed the top honour in the women empowerment category among public sector undertakings, whilst ITC Limited secured the corresponding private sector award for companies with annual turnover exceeding ₹3,001 crore. The awards ceremony highlighted corporate India’s evolving approach to social responsibility, marking a shift from mere compliance to strategic collaboration in addressing societal challenges.
In a significant recognition of skill development efforts, Schneider Electric India Private Limited and Bridgestone India Private Limited shared the joint winner status in the skill development and livelihood category, underscoring the critical role of private enterprises in building India’s human capital infrastructure. AkzoNobel India Limited received a jury commendation certificate in the same category.
The environmental sustainability category witnessed dual winners, with Dow Chemical International Private Limited and Asian Paints Limited jointly receiving recognition for their contributions to ecological preservation. This acknowledgement comes at a time when Indian corporations are increasingly integrating environmental considerations into their business strategies.
Anand Group of Companies secured the education category award, whilst Minda Corporation Limited was honoured for its work in inclusive development of persons with disabilities. Axis Bank Limited claimed the food security and agriculture category, reflecting the financial sector’s growing engagement with rural development initiatives.
“For all of us, today is a defining day, because we applaud the CSR companies and their champions. They have made an outstanding contribution to inclusive growth, agriculture, sustainable livelihood, sustainable development, women empowerment and other development-led initiatives,” said Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development. The event emphasised that “for all of you gathered here CSR is a calling”, she noted, adding that achieving the Viksit Bharat vision requires collaborative effort.
The recognition extends beyond large corporations, with awards acknowledging contributions across different business scales. Alkem Laboratories Limited won in the health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene category for companies with turnover between ₹201 crore and ₹3,000 crore, whilst Gameskraft Technologies Private Limited was recognised in the ‘any other’ category for the same revenue bracket.
Tata Capital Limited received honours in the aspirational district category, highlighting efforts to develop India’s most backward regions. Samta Energy Private Limited claimed the small and medium enterprises award, demonstrating that impactful CSR initiatives transcend company size.
Additional jury commendation certificates were awarded to LIC Housing Finance Limited for women empowerment, AkzoNobel India Limited for skill development, Syngenta India Private Limited for health and sanitation initiatives, and Maruti Suzuki India Limited for exemplary innovation in CSR practices.
The awards ceremony emphasised corporate India’s role in achieving the government’s Viksit Bharat vision, which aims to transform India into a $30 trillion economy by 2047. The summit preceding the awards, titled ‘Powering Bharat’s CSR for Inclusive Transformation and Sustainable Rural Transformation’, showcased what organisers described as a fundamental “mindset change” in corporate approach to social responsibility.
“It was very encouraging to see the experts displaying a growth mindset as against a fixed mindset. From compliance to collaboration. From simply allocating money to co-creation. And from projects to partnership,” said Birla, highlighting the evolution from traditional CSR models to strategic development partnerships.
“The award is a testament to the amazing work done by the winning companies and to being a ‘Force for Good’,” she noted, praising the robust and transparent judging process that has made the FICCI CSR Awards increasingly aspirational within corporate circles.
Mrs Birla emphasised that the Viksit Bharat target “goes beyond the government”, describing it as “the moral responsibility of every corporate, every Indian to work towards this goal in whatever capacity, regardless of the scale”.
As India maintains its position as the world’s fastest-growing economy, these awards underscore the private sector’s expanding role in ensuring that economic growth translates into inclusive development, addressing challenges spanning rural transformation, environmental sustainability, and social equity across the subcontinent.