In charts: Indians give a generous Rs 54,000cr a year, but religion bags lion’s share

Feb 24, 2026 | 18:44 IST

Nearly 7 in 10 Indians donate — cash, food or time. Yet most of India’s Rs 54,000 crore giving economy flows to temples and direct appeals, not NGOs. What the data reveals about trust, faith and the country’s informal philanthropy system may surprise you

Indians do give. In fact, 68% of respondents reported giving in some form — cash, in-kind support, or volunteering — over a three-month recall period, according to a survey by Ashoka University’s Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) titled ‘How India Gives 2025-26’.

Religion over NGOs…

TOI

TOI

In charts: Indians give a generous Rs 54,000cr a year, but religion bags lion’s share

Nearly 7 in 10 Indians donate — cash, food or time. Yet most of India’s Rs 54,000 crore giving economy flows to temples and direct appeals, not NGOs. What the data reveals about trust, faith and the country’s informal philanthropy system may surprise you

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TOI

In charts: Indians give a generous Rs 54,000cr a year, but religion bags lion’s share

Nearly 7 in 10 Indians donate — cash, food or time. Yet most of India’s Rs 54,000 crore giving economy flows to temples and direct appeals, not NGOs. What the data reveals about trust, faith and the country’s informal philanthropy system may surprise you

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