India’s funding for social causes has been on an encouraging rise, growing at a steady rate of 13% over the last five years. As of the fiscal year 2024, total funding is projected to reach ₹25 lakh crore (about $300 billion), which makes up approximately 8.3% of the country’s GDP. This information comes from the Bain & Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2025.
Public spending remains the backbone of social sector funding, contributing a substantial 95% of total finances. The report indicates that this public funding is expected to surge to ₹45 lakh crore (around $550 billion), representing 9.6% of GDP, by the year 2029. However, there is a notable gap in funding, with spending projected to be ₹14 lakh crore ($170 billion) less than what the NITI Aayog estimates. This gap might widen further to ₹16 lakh crore ($195 billion) by 2029.
The increase in public spending is anticipated to be driven by stronger investments in healthcare, coupled with modest enhancements in education funding.
On the private side, funding has also seen growth, albeit at a more moderate pace. Private contributions rose by 7% from FY 2023 to FY 2024, totaling ₹131,000 crore ($16 billion). Going forward, private spending is expected to pick up speed, with projected growth rates of 10% to 12% in the next five years. This increase is largely expected to be propelled by philanthropic efforts from wealthy families, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs).
The report emphasizes that family philanthropy, which includes both personal donations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives from family-operated businesses, represents around 40% of the total private philanthropy. A notable trend is that families are focusing their giving on less-funded and specialized causes, with 40% supporting gender equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, 29% backing climate action, and 39% aiming to bolster ecosystem resilience in the upcoming years.
Furthermore, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of family offices, skyrocketing from 45 in 2018 to 300 by 2024. This growth is pushing a shift toward more organized, long-term philanthropic efforts that align with family values. As stated in the report, around 40% of organizations providing philanthropic support are now tailored to families. With enhanced strategic guidance and support for family philanthropy, it is estimated that an additional ₹50,000 to ₹55,000 crore ($6 to $7 billion) could be unlocked over the next five years.
