Who Is India's 'Most Generous'? Not Ambani Or Adani — This Billionaire Donated Rs 6 Crore Per Day in FY24

New Delhi: In FY24, India's philanthropists donated Rs 8,783 crore, 4% more than the Rs 8,445 crore given in FY23 and a 55% jump from Rs 5,623 crore in FY22, EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024 revealed. HCL's Shiv Nadar emerged as "India's Most Generous" man in the list donating Rs 2,153 crore to philanthropic causes. His donations alone amounted to a quarter of the money donated by 203 business leaders in the Hurun List. Other big donors included Mukesh Ambani with Rs 407 crore and Rohini Nilekani Rs 154 crore.Nadar's donation this year amounted to nearly Rs 6 crore per day, with the main focus on the education sector. According to the prestigious list, the number of business leaders donating over Rs 100 crore went from just two in 2018 to 18 in 2024. Nandan Nilekani led the list with the largest increase in donations, contributing an additional Rs 118 crore this year. Meanwhile, Harish Shah and the family of Signet Excipients made a notable leap, rising 53 positions to rank 22nd, with a total annual donation of Rs 78 crore."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 such like Nandan Nilekani and Subroto Bagchi, who, after building successful businesses, are now deeply committed to philanthropy, are featured," said Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher, Hurun.

'Most Generous' New EntrantKrishna Chivukula earned the tag of "most generous new entrant" for her donation of Rs 228 crore to IIT Madras. Chivukula has led the growth of Indo MIM in Bengaluru, specialising in the production of small, complex metal and ceramic components in high volumes. Most aircraft today feature metals manufactured by his company. Emerging philanthropists also include Zerodha's Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, who donated a combined Rs 120 crore, as well as Susmita and Subroto Bagchi, who contributed Rs 179 crore, securing a place in the top 10.