Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has blossomed from a charitable afterthought into a transformative pillar of national development. No longer confined to donations or token gestures, CSR today serves as a bridge between economic prosperity and social equity.
It empowers corporations to become co-architects in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient India. At the forefront of this journey stands the State Bank of India (SBI), the nation’s largest public sector bank, whose deeply embedded CSR philosophy aligns seamlessly with India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Viksit Bharat 2047 is not merely a destination – it is a clarion call to reimagine India as a fully developed nation by the centenary celebration of the independence. It envisions a country where every citizen – be it the poor (Garib), youth (Yuva), farmer (Annadata), or woman (Naari) – has a stake in and access to progress. SBI’s CSR blueprint is in perfect harmony with this vision, reaching far beyond financial aid to nurture enduring, community-driven ecosystems across education, healthcare, sustainability, financial inclusion, and livelihood generation.
SBI pioneered Corporate Social Responsibility as ‘Innovative Banking’ nearly five decades ago, embedding the idea of social good as one of its core institutional principle. Over the years, this pioneering spirit has evolved into a strategic and deeply rooted commitment to national development. “At SBI, our commitment extends beyond financial contributions, focusing on creating sustainable and responsive community support systems. The CSR activities of SBI aims to integrate economic, environmental, and social objectives to support national priorities such as education, green environment, Healthcare and sanitation, livelihood, rural and slum area development, skill development; empowerment of women, youth and senior citizens, thereby making a significant positive impact on millions of lives throughout the country”, said Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman of SBI in his message in bank’s Sustainability Report for FY25.
SBI’s CSR efforts in FY 2024-25 are marked by their scale and strategic focus. The Bank allocated Rs 610.77 crore to CSR activities, benefiting more than 65 lakh individuals across the country. These initiatives were implemented through both direct efforts and the SBI Foundation – the Bank’s CSR arm – which funded 180 out of 339 CSR projects across 94 Aspirational Districts, with a total value of Rs 485.83 crore. These districts, identified by the government as requiring targeted development, benefited from contributions in critical areas such as health, education, sanitation, and empowerment.
Among the most vital engines propelling India toward Viksit Bharat is skill development. It empowers individuals – especially youth and women – to meaningfully engage in the economy. By equipping citizens with vocational and entrepreneurial tools, India paves the way for innovation, employment generation, and sustainable self-reliance. Recognising this, SBI has made skill development a cornerstone of its CSR vision. The Bank operates 153 Rural Self
Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) in 29 states and union territories, offering free, high-quality vocational training to rural youth. In FY2025 alone, Rs 21.34 crore was dedicated to strengthening these institutes. A particularly inspiring initiative was launched on Republic Day: a women-exclusive training drive across all RSETIs that empowered 5,200 women with the skills to reshape their futures.
Women empowerment, a force multiplier of progress, pulses at the heart of SBI’s social mission. A nation flourishes when its women rise and be an active participant in its growth journey. SBI advances this belief through initiatives such as SBI Asmita, Swayam Siddha Saral, and Nari Shakti. These schemes provide credit, skills, and confidence to women entrepreneurs, particularly those in Self Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, SBI has so far allocated over Rs 10 crore to promote girl child education and welfare, covering over 2,100 institutions and catering the students with critical facilities by constructing girls’ toilets and distributing cycles to help them march seamlessly on their educational journey.
SBI’s CSR canvas also vividly illustrates inclusion. To uplift differentlyabled citizens, the Bank joined hands with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur, pledging Rs 10 crore for assistive devices – ranging from wheelchairs to hearing aids – to 9,000 beneficiaries across 20 cities.
This culminated in a landmark national distribution event The International Day of Persons with Disabilities with SBI’s Chairman personally leading the gesture of dignity and care.
Environmental sustainability is another principle woven deeply into SBI’s ethos. In FY2025, the Bank planted more than 16.21 lakh trees and partnered with Isha Outreach for the Cauvery Calling initiative, facilitating an additional 9 lakh plantations across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These efforts replenished ecosystems while boosting local livelihoods. In its internal operations as well, SBI is implementing green initiatives with strategic intent. As of March 31 2025, the bank has installed 4,534 solar rooftops with a capacity of more than 31 MW, has built 542 rainwater harvesting systems, and earned IGBC green certifications for 61 buildings. With a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, the Bank is leading by example.
Beyond its walls, SBI cultivates green consciousness among employees through plastic-free zones, ESG workshops, and Green Clubs, igniting a culture of environmental responsibility that echoes through every branch.
However, if India has to walk steadily on its growth path on a consistent basis, then education must make the bedrock of our growth towards being the Viksit Bharat by 2047. Education empowers individuals with knowledge, critical thinking, and the skills needed for innovation and nation-building and helps them drive productivity and foster informed & inclusive participation in the economy. Our education sector is rising steadily over the years yet foundational challenges persist with literacy, numeracy, teacher training, and tertiary enrolment lagging behind UNESCO’s SDG‑4 target. Here, the role of CSR becomes extremely critical as through providing contribution to infrastructure, scholarships, digital classrooms, teacher training, and communityled learning models, it can actively play a part in bridging gaps in our nation’s educational landscape.
Understanding the imperative of educational transformation, the State Bank of India pledged Rs 55.38 cr in educational initiatives benefitting over 23 lakh students. From installing digital classrooms in 46 government schools in Odisha and 80 Smart Digital Boards in Rajasthan, to setting up an AI-ready Hi-tech Computer Lab at IIIT Bhopal, the Bank is bridging the digital divide. Initiatives like mobile libraries and solar systems in Madhya Pradesh, and laptops for underprivileged SC/ST students in Jaipur and Bhopal, further reinforced SBI’s inclusive vision. In rural Telangana, it empowered students with a science lab, books, and a digital library. Each initiative is a promise – of hope, equality, and opportunity – echoing SBI’s belief that quality education is the cornerstone of a truly Viksit Bharat.
Financial inclusion also remains another powerful vector of SBI’s CSR approach. With an extensive network of Business Correspondents and Customer Service Points (CSPs), the Bank has enabled over 151 million PMJDY accounts and handles around 3.2 million transactions daily. These CSPs act as micro-banks, offering 33 essential services, including cash withdrawals, insurance, and pension enrollments – bringing financial dignity to even the most remote corners of India. Complementing this, SBI’s green finance initiatives underscore its belief that environmental and economic futures are intertwined. The bank financed Rs 76,736 crore in renewable energy in FY2025 and has committed to ensuring 7.5% of its gross domestic advances to be green by 2030 – a pledge both visionary and vital.
This multifaceted impact through CSR activities has earned SBI numerous accolades such as, CSR Journal Excellence Awards, Navbharat CSR Awards, ASSOCHAM Menstrual Hygiene Excellence Award, and BW Disrupt Social Impact Leaders Award, among others – serving as testaments to a legacy of trust and impact. “Through our CSR initiatives, we remain committed in balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and social progress, directly supporting our national development goals”, stated Chairman CS Setty in his annual message.
As India moves towards the centenary year of its independence, SBI walks together with the nation in the journey of its overall growth and welfare and towards achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Through its vast and strategic CSR initiatives, the bank is sculpting a future where economic growth harmonises with equity, ecology, and empowerment. In doing so, SBI is both supporting and composing the anthem of the nation’s dream of a Viksit Bharat.
