Driving social impact through CSR and ESG: India’s path to sustainability

India is leading a new era where CSR and ESG principles drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainability for measurable social impact. 

In brief

• India is redefining CSR and ESG, moving from compliance-oriented frameworks to strategic tools that foster social equity, inclusion and sustainable growth.
• The Times of India Social Impact Summit 2025 highlighted multi-sector stakeholder collaboration, clean energy, circularity, regenerative agriculture and inclusive labor practices.
• Integrated frameworks and blended finance are enabling scalable, measurable impact across education, healthcare, nutrition, livelihoods and gender equity.

India is navigating a transformative crossroad in its pursuit of inclusive socio-economic development, where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), climate change and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles are redefining social impact, sustainable development, business purpose and societal progress.

The Times of India Social Impact Summit 2025, supported by Knowledge Partner EY, brought together corporate leaders, government stakeholders and civil society laying the foundation for a new era of strategic, impact-driven engagements that transcend compliance and catalyze systemic transformation.

The evolution of CSR, climate change, sustainability and ESG in India reflects a paradigm shift from philanthropic gestures and regulatory checkboxes towards integration with core business strategies and long-term value creation. Discussions at the summit spanned key themes including technology and AI for sustainability, climate innovation, mindful consumption, waste as a resource, inclusive corporate governance, youth-driven social impact, and healthcare, education, and nutrition.

Insights from leaders such as Shri Nitin Gadkari, Mr. Amitabh Kant and Mr. Uday Kotak reinforced the view that CSR and ESG must serve as strategic development tools—drivers of systemic change rooted in social equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Strategic frameworks and collaboration

The summit emphasized the importance of collaboration among corporate, grassroots organizations, NGOs, government and academia to drive meaningful social impact. With an emphasis on sector-focused strategies, the following key frameworks were highlighted:

• Accelerating the transition to clean energy by adopting renewables and low-carbon technologies such as solar, wind, green hydrogen and biofuels
• Advancing circularity in resource use across critical sectors including steel, cement and chemicals
• Championing regenerative agricultural practices and nature-based solutions to restore ecosystems and improve sustainability
• Strengthening labor practices to support a just transition and promote inclusive, equitable economic growth

These collaborative frameworks are central to fostering partnerships among diverse stakeholders by leveraging complementary strengths and promoting participatory governance. Such approaches help ensure that interventions are contextually relevant, sustainable and scalable.

By aligning with government schemes, public policies and green blended finance models, ecosystems can scale their impact with greater transparency, accountability and innovation. Integrated frameworks are also helping converge critical sectors—education, healthcare, nutrition, livelihoods, and gender equity—into holistic programs that address the intersectional realities of India’s population.

The summit also announced the formation of The Times of India ESG & CSR Council, a multi-stakeholder platform designed to advance India’s sustainable development goals. With leadership from corporate, governments, civil society, technology innovators and youth, the initiative marks a collective commitment to transformative and measurable impact.

Key takeaways from the summit:

The summit provided actionable insights and strategies for India’s CSR and ESG journey:

• Climate innovation: Foster community-led climate solutions and embed climate innovation objectives within core business strategies and project planning.

• Tech and AI driving sustainability: Promote public-private partnerships (PPP) for resource pooling and knowledge sharing in technology adoption; leverage AI and digital platforms to enhance climate data analysis, resource efficiency, and transparency.

• Mindful Consumption: Promote transparent, science-based communication to raise consumer awareness of sustainable products while driving innovation in durable, repairable, and circular product design and packaging to encourage conscious purchasing and extend product lifecycles.

• Corporate governance: Enhance capabilities by establishing structured ESG oversight frameworks and data-driven decision-making processes; align business incentives with sustainability principles and goals to ensure accountability; and embed inclusive governance practices that promote transparency and stakeholder engagement.

• Education: Scale access to technology-enabled microlearning and vocational training; build adaptive learning models supporting students and teachers; and develop peer-learning, mentorship, and volunteer networks.

• Health: Mobilize preventive healthcare efforts by building capacity and resources for community-centered care; collaborate with government and NGOs to develop inclusive health initiatives through education and early intervention.

• Gender equality: Amplify women’s economic participation by empowering populations and expanding access to entrepreneurship training and financial services.

Conclusion

In the fight against climate change, India stands at the forefront, facing the dual imperative to mitigate its effects and adapt for sustainable growth that supports the world’s largest human capital. The road ahead is being shaped by holistic collaboration, sector-focused solutions, local innovation, equity and inclusion, transparency, and the resolve to confront systemic challenges. It is a journey of moving from compliance to purpose, creating impact beyond regulation, and harnessing blended finance to drive long-term transformation.