Hurun India and EdelGive released the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024.
This is the 11th annual ranking of the most generous individuals in India.
This is our attempt to highlight India’s remarkable givers and to capture the growing importance
of individual givers in India’s philanthropic landscape towards nation-building. Donations were
measured by the value of their cash or cash equivalents from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
This is the eleventh year of the list, and it follows on from the Hurun India Rich List, a ranking
of 1,539 wealthiest individuals in India, released in August 2024 for the thirteenth year.
EdelGive Foundation has partnered with Hurun India to create this report to understand
philanthropic giving in the country from a data and evidence point of view. The report is
significant in understanding the data of giving and throws light on the sectors and geographies
at the receiving end of this giving. Through this report, we aim to bring to notice the strength of
the social sector and access areas that require further growth.
This year’s EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024 features individuals who have donated
INR 5 Cr or more during the period under review.
“As the needs of the nation evolve, so must the response of the Indian philanthropic sector.
The EDELGIVE-HURUN INDIA PHILANTHROPY LIST 2024 aims to decode and catalogue
the philanthropic landscape, identifying the key players, their motivations and the causes being
funded, today. The EdelGive Foundation strongly believes in supporting both funders and
grassroots organisations by bridging the gap between them to build a cohesive and efficient
ecosystem. Now in its sixth year, the EDELGIVE-HURUN INDIA PHILANTHROPY LIST 2024
serves as a beacon for the sector and an example for the potential of giving, in this
country”, Naghma Mulla, CEO, EdelGive Foundation.
Commenting on the launch, Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder and Chief Researcher, Hurun
India, said, “Although wealth creation is important for India’s economic development, role of
philanthropy in achieving wider economic prosperity is an absolute critical path. The EdelGive
Hurun India Philanthropy List over the years aims to be a journal documenting the progress of
India’s philanthropic evolution.”
“So, what really has been the progress? Is Indian wealth creation catching up with philanthropy?
Many would argue that Indian wealth creators still have ground to cover. However, considering
that India is a young country with just under two decades of substantial wealth creation, the
philanthropic numbers are quite promising. For instance, the threshold to enter India’s top 10
philanthropists has doubled, now reaching INR 154 crore, up from INR 83 crore five years ago.
Additionally, the number of individuals donating over INR 100 crore has increased to 18,
compared to just 9 in 2019. This number of INR 100 crore donors is impressive, considering
that China— with nearly twice as many billionaires and a GDP five times larger than India’s—
has ‘only’ twenty five philanthropists donating over INR 100 crore. This data highlights that
India, in the process of becoming a developed nation, will also be a global role model for
philanthropy. Just recently, Abhishek Lodha of Macrotech Developers pledged INR 20,000
crores to philanthropy, making it one of the largest philanthropic commitments in the world.
There will be more such inspiring stories of Indian philanthropy.”
“The top 10 list represents a balanced spectrum of Indian philanthropy: we see first-generation
entrepreneurs like Shiv Nadar and Adani alongside established family businesses such as
Ambani, Bajaj, and Birla, continuing their legacy of giving. Additionally, entrepreneurs like
Nandan Nilekani and Subroto Bagchi, who, after building successful businesses, are now
deeply committed to philanthropy, are featured. Notably, two women—Susmita Bagchi and
Rohini Nilekani—also appear in the top 10. This evolving philanthropic landscape in India points
to a future where wealth creation goes hand in hand with impactful social change, inspiring a
new generation of givers,” concluded Anas Rahman Junaid.