Cupped hands holding a seedling — corporate social responsibility and climate impact

CSR Climate Grants India

Indian companies are legally required to spend 2% of average net profit on CSR — roughly ₹40,000 crore a year. A growing slice funds climate work through direct grants to startups, NGOs, and incubator partners: Cummins’ ₹20 lakh Green Energy Impact Fund, HDFC Parivartan, HCLTech’s climate and rural development grants, and more.

CSR grants are non-dilutive by design — no equity, no repayment. Below are the live ones we track, plus closed cycles so you can see who funds what and when windows reopen.

Green Hydrogen Grants BIRAC & DBT Grants All Grants

Open Now

CSR GrantOngoing

Recently Closed & Past Cycles

Past programs that show the shape of this funding space. Most run again — watch the funder page or our digest for the next window.

FITT IIT Delhi — IGNITE Program (IDFC FIRST Bank CSR)

FITT IIT Delhi / IDFC FIRST Bank

Clean energy and green tech incubation grant. Closed November 2025 — typical of annual CSR cycles; watch for a new edition.

Technip Energies CSR Grant

Technip Energies

Past CSR call for climate and sustainability projects. Illustrates how engineering majors route CSR capital to climate ventures.

Venture Center Climate Tech Launchpad (Thoughtworks)

Venture Center / Thoughtworks

Past cycle: ₹5 lakh each for 6 climate startups. Shows the incubator-partner model many CSR grants use.

How to Apply

1.Check focus areas first — Cummins funds green energy access, HDFC funds climate innovation, HCLTech funds climate + rural development. Match your startup to the company’s stated priorities.
2.Apply through the partner incubator or foundation portal on the grant card — most CSR grants are run by partners, not the company directly.
3.Frame impact in measurable terms: tonnes CO₂, energy access, water saved. CSR committees approve projects, not pitch decks.
4.Watch fiscal-year cycles — most CSR programs announce in Q1–Q2 and close mid-year. The weekly digest tracks reopenings.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CSR grant?

Under the Companies Act, qualifying Indian companies must spend 2% of average net profit on Corporate Social Responsibility. Climate and sustainability are now major CSR themes, and companies fund them via grants — non-dilutive, non-repayable.

Do CSR grants take equity?

No. CSR is philanthropic capital by law — it cannot take equity or expect repayment. This makes it one of the cleanest non-dilutive sources for climate ventures.

Who can apply for CSR climate grants?

Registered entities: companies, startups, NGOs, and research institutions. Many CSR programs route through incubator partners (FITT IIT Delhi, Venture Center, IIMCIP) and target early-stage ventures with measurable impact.