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In 2025, the landscape of education in India is being reshaped—not just by policymakers or educators, but by corporations stepping forward with impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

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As per Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, companies meeting the threshold of ₹500 crore net worth, ₹1,000 crore turnover, or ₹5 crore net profit must spend at least 2% of their average net profit over the past three years on CSR activities.

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For many of these companies, education remains a top CSR priority, accounting for over 35% of total CSR spend in India in 2024–25.

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This blog highlights the Top 10 CSR donors in the education sector in India in 2025, based on verified public disclosures and credible third-party data. Special attention is given to initiatives in Bihar, a region where education-focused CSR can drive long-term systemic change.

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CSR in education refers to company-funded initiatives that support schools, digital learning, infrastructure, scholarships, and teacher training. These efforts help bridge educational gaps—especially in underserved areas like rural India.

Why it is important to invest in Education

Under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, promoting education, especially among underprivileged children, is an eligible CSR activity. Many corporations extend this to include STEM, girls' education, vocational training, and digital literacy.

Criteria for Selection

The top CSR donors featured in this list were selected through a multi-factor evaluation process based on the most recent CSR disclosures (FY 2024–25) and verified impact reports. Key selection parameters included:

• Total Amount Donated: Verified CSR spends allocated specifically to education, as reported in company filings and public databases.
  
  
• Impact Achieved: Scale, reach, and measurable outcomes—such as number of students supported, schools upgraded, or digital classrooms established.
  
  
• Innovation & Strategy: Use of technology, partnerships, and scalable models that go beyond traditional grant-making to create systemic educational change.
  
  
• Regional Inclusion: Special consideration for initiatives targeting underserved and high-need geographies, particularly Bihar and other educationally backward regions.
  
  

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1. Tata Group / Tata Trusts

• Amount Donated: ₹750+ crore (estimated)
  
  
• Notable Projects: Digital classrooms, STEM labs, teacher training, library infrastructure
  
  
• Regions Covered: Pan-India including Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra
  
  
• Impact Summary: Directly benefits over 2 million students annually

‍Source: Inventiva – Tata CSR in Education, NGO4YOU

2. Reliance Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹600+ crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Scholarships, Reliance Foundation Schools, mobile digital learning vans
  
  
• Regions Covered: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh
  
  
• Impact Summary: Supported 14,500+ children in FY2025 with measurable learning outcomes
  

Source: CSR Journal

3. Infosys Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹300 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Rural school renovation, libraries, Chennai Mathematical Institute
  
  
• Regions Covered: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, parts of Bihar (via NGOs)
  
  
• Impact Summary: Improved infrastructure for 1,000+ schools
  

Source: Wikipedia – Infosys Foundation

4. Wipro Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹280 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Digital literacy programs, Azim Premji Foundation collaborations, government school teacher training
  
  
• Regions Covered: Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha
  
  
• Impact Summary: Focused on capacity building across 20,000+ teachers

‍Source: CSR Journal

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5. HDFC Bank / HDFC Ltd.

• Amount Donated: ₹275 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: School sanitation, scholarship programs, learning labs in low-income areas
  
  
• Regions Covered: Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra
  
  
• Impact Summary: Over 300,000 students reached via sanitation + scholarship programs

‍Source: CSRBOX Outlook Report 2025

6. JSW Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹220 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: JSW Public Policy School at IIM Ahmedabad, education centers in tribal regions
  
  
• Regions Covered: Odisha, Maharashtra, remote villages in Bihar
  
  
• Impact Summary: High-impact interventions in tribal and backward districts

‍Source: Wikipedia – JSW Group

7. Adani Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹200 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Adani Vidya Mandirs (free schools), digital smart class setups, vocational skilling
  
  
• Regions Covered: Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar (Muzaffarpur district)
  
  
• Impact Summary: Provided free education to 6,000+ children across multiple districts‍

‍‍Source: Times of India – Adani CSR

8. Motilal Oswal Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹150 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: ₹100 crore grant to ISB for education infrastructure; support to IIMs & Plaksha
  
  
• Regions Covered: Urban metros (Hyderabad, Mumbai); Bihar via partner NGOs
  
  
• Impact Summary: Strategic investment in higher education infrastructure
  

‍Source: TOI – ISB ₹100 Cr Donation

9. Mahindra Group (Project Nanhi Kali)

• Amount Donated: ₹140 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Education for underprivileged girls; education kits; after-school support
  
  
• Regions Covered: Bihar (Darbhanga), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra
  
  
• Impact Summary: 400,000+ girls educated since inception

‍Source: CSR.education – Nanhi Kali

10. SBI Foundation

• Amount Donated: ₹130 crore
  
  
• Notable Projects: Upgradation of 40+ government schools in Bihar, teacher digital training
  
  
• Regions Covered: Bihar, Assam, UP, Northeast India

• ‍Impact Summary: ₹2 crore donation directly upgraded infrastructure in Bihar primary schools

Source: Times of India – SBI CSR in Bihar

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• Digital Shift: Companies are prioritizing ed-tech, smart classrooms, and device distribution.
  
  
• Bihar in Focus: Several CSR donors are now actively investing in backward districts of Bihar.
  
  
• Girls’ Education Rising: Projects like Nanhi Kali and SBI’s initiatives focus on girl child support.
  
  
• University Partnerships: Strategic investments in IIMs, ISBs, IITs reflect a move toward research & leadership building.

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The Top 10 CSR donors in India’s education sector in 2025 are not just funding programs—they’re architecting measurable, long-term impact. From digital classrooms in remote Bihar districts to cutting-edge university infrastructure in Hyderabad and Mumbai, these corporates are setting benchmarks for purposeful CSR in education.

Looking to implement educational projects in high-need regions like Bihar, Jharkhand, or in West Bengal? Partner with BuiltX to build the mission driven infrastructure.

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