Outside a temple in Delhi, a woman drops a few rupees into the bowl of an elderly man sitting near the entrance. A few blocks away, a man adds Rs 50 to his Uber fare after chatting with the driver about his income. In another neighbourhood, a homemaker arranges medicines for her maid’s sick daughter.
Across India, acts like these happen millions of times every day. As illustrated by Ashoka University’s Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy’s Feb 2026 study, ‘How India Gives 2025-26’, Indian households give about $6 bn (Rs 540 bn) every year, measured across cash contributions, in-kind donations and volunteering. However, these gifts are predominantly ad-hoc, incidental and support individuals in need.
