The 2024 Hurun India Philanthropy List reveals that while industrial giants Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani are among the wealthiest individuals in India, it is HCL Technologies founder Shiv Nadar and his family who continue to top the list of the nation’s most generous philanthropists. For the second consecutive year, Nadar and his family led the rankings, contributing a remarkable ₹2,153 crore to various charitable initiatives. The Ambani family took second place, donating ₹407 crore, while the Bajaj family, with ₹352 crore, climbed three ranks to secure the third spot with a 33% increase in their donations over the previous year.
Meet India’s Most Generous Donors #HurunIndia #Philanthropy pic.twitter.com/I3NGRpPrLk
— Anup Tiwari (@anuptiwari) November 8, 2024
The list, encompassing over 200 donors, shows that the top 10 philanthropists contributed a total of ₹4,625 crore, comprising 53% of all donations. The average donation across the 203 contributors was ₹43 crore. Notable new entrants in the list include Krishna Chivukula, who made a donation of ₹228 crore, and Susmita and Subroto Bagchi, who collectively donated ₹179 crore. Key causes supported include education, public healthcare, and ecosystem building.
The Adani family, representing the Adani Group, ranked fifth with a donation of ₹330 crore—a 16% increase from the previous year, with their philanthropic focus channeled through the Adani Foundation. Among the top 10 female philanthropists, Rohini Nilekani led with a ₹154 crore donation toward ecosystem development. Meanwhile, Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, at 38, stands as the youngest in the list, donating ₹120 crore to the Rainmatter Foundation and marking his second consecutive appearance in the philanthropy rankings.
These contributions underscore the commitment of India’s wealthiest to social causes, highlighting substantial support for public welfare and development in key sectors.
