In 2019, everyday giving was estimated to be at Rs 34,000 crore; the figure has risen to Rs 37,000 crore in 2023. Crucially, much of the donations remains informal. In 2019, only about 10% of everyday giving moved through formal channels; by 2023, just over 22% did so. India’s giving, on the other hand, remains relational; the impulse to donate is shaped by cultural norms and a moral vocabulary that emphasises duty. The challenge, therefore, is to build bridges between faith and formal philanthropy, thereby transferring public trust towards bona fide social organisations.

Source: The Telegraph March 02, 2026 01:52 UTC