Axis Bank’s CSR programmes reached millions of lives through strategic collaborations with over 40 partner organisations
MUMBAI (India CSR): Axis Bank’s CSR Impact Report 2024–25 reflects nearly two decades of sustained commitment to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth. Guided by its ethos of “Dil Se Open”, the Bank continues to co-create community-driven solutions aligned with India’s developmental priorities and Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Through Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) and a vast network of implementing partners, the Bank’s CSR work spans six major thematic areas — Lives & Livelihoods, Education, Health & Nutrition, Environmental Sustainability, Financial Inclusion & Literacy, Sports, and Humanitarian & Relief.
This year marks a defining moment for Axis Bank as it expands its CSR focus to include Olympic and Grassroot Sports, recognizing sports as a catalyst for social cohesion, inclusion, and national pride.
The report showcases Axis Bank’s evolution from a benefactor to a co-creator of social change. Across its thematic areas, the Bank has embedded sustainability, trust, and long-term partnerships at the heart of its CSR philosophy.
A National Network of Impact
Axis Bank’s CSR Impact Report 2024–25 reveals a remarkable expansion of partnerships across India, demonstrating its deep commitment to inclusive growth and community empowerment. With initiatives spanning Lives & Livelihoods, Education, Health & Nutrition, Financial Inclusion & Literacy, Environmental Sustainability, Sports, and Humanitarian & Relief, the Bank has built a vast and credible ecosystem of implementation partners driving change across 32 states and union territories.
Axis Bank’s CSR programmes reached millions of lives through strategic collaborations with over 40 partner organisations, each contributing specialised expertise and local insights. The report highlights a thematic synergy between civil society, academia, and government missions — blending compassion with measurable outcomes.
Lives & Livelihoods
Axis Bank Foundation’s Sustainable Livelihood Programme (SLP) continues to be one of India’s most impactful rural development initiatives. With a presence in 23,000+ villages across 32 states and UTs, it has cumulatively benefited 2.05 million families by March 31, 2025.
Key Highlights
- 0.38 million families reached in FY 2024–25.
- 0.37 million rural families supported through livelihood activities.
- 0.014 million youth, including PwDs, trained in vocational skills.
- 166 million litres of water harvesting potential created.
- 6 million trees planted through horticulture and agroforestry.
The programme’s evolution from Mission 1 Million (2011–2018) to Mission 2 Million (2019–2025), and now Mission 4 Million (2025–2031), highlights Axis Bank’s long-term vision of promoting climate-smart agriculture, micro-enterprises, and natural resource governance.
Through the Axis Bank Foundation (ABF), the Bank collaborated with a wide range of rural development partners to build economic resilience among 2.05 million families across India. The focus was on natural resource management, micro-enterprise development, and climate-smart agriculture.
Key Partner
- Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) – spearheading Mission 2 Million, empowering families through sustainable livelihoods, vocational training, and rural entrepreneurship.
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Education
Education remains a core pillar of Axis Bank’s CSR vision, redefining access and equity through partnerships across rural and remote geographies. Its initiatives reached 8.36 lakh direct beneficiaries in FY 2024–25.
Flagship Programme: Axis DilSe®: Originating in Ladakh (2017), Axis DilSe® now operates across the Northeast through seven Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in partnership with Assam Rifles, NIEDO, and the Indian Army.
Impact Metrics
- 300+ students enrolled.
- 236 qualified NEET, 17 qualified JEE.
- Nagaland CoE received the Rotary CSR Award for Education 2024.
Higher Education & Research
- Supported 53 women scholars in STEM via Ashoka University.
- Sponsored 32 students at Plaksha University and launched FutureTech Program.
- Established the Axis Bank Centre for Mathematics and Computing at IISc Bengaluru, supporting 642 students and 8 teachers, resulting in 54 journal publications.
Strengthening Education Systems
Initiatives like CM Rise (Madhya Pradesh) with Peepul and Rupantar (Sri Aurobindo Society) benefited 3.32 lakh students and 12,000 teachers.
The STEM Programme with Khan Academy in Odisha impacted 90,000 students, while Shikshagraha improved learning for 2.8 lakh students across 4,000 schools in three states.
The Bank’s education partnerships reached 8.36 lakh direct beneficiaries through transformative programmes addressing both access and quality.
Major CSR Partners in Education
- 17000ft Foundation – school transformation in remote Sikkim and Ladakh
- Ashoka University – STEM scholarships and frontier research
- Ayang Trust – flood-affected Assam education support
- Khan Academy India – digital STEM learning in Odisha schools
- Mantra 4 Change – ‘Shikshagraha’ program across Jharkhand, Odisha & Chhattisgarh
- Muheem Ek Sarthak Prayas Welfare Society – literacy and re-enrolment for Musahar children
- Peepul – teacher leadership through the CM Rise initiative in Madhya Pradesh
- Plaksha University – scholarships for underrepresented students
- Sri Aurobindo Society – competency-based teacher capacity building in 129 districts
- Step Up for India, Sarthak Foundation, Tata Steel Foundation, and NIEDO – multi-tier education support across regions
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Financial Inclusion & Literacy
Axis Bank’s Financial Inclusion initiatives aim to bridge gaps in financial awareness and access, especially among women and rural communities.
Major Interventions
- Community Financial Literacy Cells (CFLCs) established in 14 districts across 5 states, benefiting 3.2 lakh individuals (2.1 lakh women).
- 11,000 awareness programs conducted.
- Innovative outreach through 250+ street plays and financial literacy wall art.
- Creation of the Axis Bank Chair on Financial Inclusion at IRMA, Anand, supporting policy research and sectoral innovation.
Axis Bank is bridging financial awareness and access through Kalanjiam Foundation and IRMA, focusing on Community Financial Literacy Cells (CFLCs) and academic research.
Key CSR Partners
- Kalanjiam Foundation – grassroots financial literacy across five states
- Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) – Axis Bank Chair on Financial Inclusion for policy and innovation research
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Environmental Sustainability
The Bank’s environmental CSR covered 2,239 hectares of landscape restoration and 1.14 million native trees planted through credible conservation partnerships.
Axis Bank’s environment-focused CSR interventions blend ecosystem restoration with community resilience, targeting afforestation, agroforestry, and coastal protection.
Impact Achievements
- 2,239 hectares restored.
- 1.14 million saplings planted across ten states in FY 2024–25.
- Cumulative 3.27 million saplings planted (2022–2025).
Projects with Balipara Foundation, FES, NEWS, CWS, and Sewa Mandir focused on native tree plantations, erosion control, and solar-powered irrigation.
In the Sundarbans and Tamil Nadu, 600,000 mangroves were planted over 100 hectares, safeguarding 5,000 coastal residents.
Urban sustainability efforts included Miyawaki forests in Navi Mumbai with Green Yatra, where 28,500 trees were planted to improve air quality and biodiversity.
Key CSR Partners
- The Corbett Foundation
- Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS)
- Foundation for Ecological Security (FES)
- Green Yatra – urban Miyawaki forests in Navi Mumbai
- Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS) – mangrove restoration in Sundarbans
- Sewa Mandir
- Balipara Foundation – climate resilience in Assam’s river islands
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Health & Nutrition
Axis Bank’s health initiatives target cancer care, child health, and preventive wellness through partnerships with India’s leading medical institutions.
Key Programmes
- National Cancer Grid (NCG): Teleconsultation and digital oncology platform across 350 hospitals.
- Indian Cancer Society (ICS): Screening and awareness campaign in Nashik reaching 8 lakh people.
- St. Jude India ChildCare Centre, Hyderabad: Supported 62 children and 124 parents with safe accommodation and emotional care.
These efforts reflect Axis Bank’s shift from charity-based care to systemic, inclusive health interventions that prioritize emotional well-being, research, and equitable access.
Axis Bank’s healthcare partnerships addressed cancer treatment, infrastructure, and patient dignity.
Key CSR Partners
- Indian Cancer Society (ICS) – mass screening and awareness in Maharashtra
- National Cancer Grid (NCG) – digital cancer care ecosystem led by Tata Memorial Centre
- St. Jude India ChildCare Centres – dignified accommodation and support for children undergoing cancer treatment
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) – Axis Bank Centre for Mathematics and Computing, enabling cross-disciplinary research and innovationcsr-impact-report-fy-2024-25
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Sports: A New CSR Frontier
Sport has the power to transform—creating a level playing field where talent, determination, and opportunity converge to rewrite destinies. In FY 2024–25, Axis Bank formally introduced Sports as a CSR thematic area, recognising it not just as a pursuit of physical excellence, but as a platform for social equity, youth engagement, and nation building.
The Bank’s vision is to support athletes holistically—from grassroots development to elite performance. These programmes this year reflected a deep investment in not just medal tallies but in systems that identify, nurture, and elevate talent, particularly from underrepresented regions and communities. Through strategic collaborations with some of India’s most credible sports institutions, we enabled journeys that bridge discipline and dignity, ambition and access to global success.
2024–25 marked the formal inclusion of Sports as a CSR theme. Axis Bank’s partnerships are designed to nurture both elite and grassroots talent. In a landmark move, Axis Bank added Sports as a CSR theme in FY 2024–25, investing Rs. 8 crore to support 381 athletes across 18 states.
Axis Bank CSR: Backing India’s Medal Dreams and Nurturing Grassroots Talent
Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ): Backing India’s Medal Dreams
Through Foundation for Promotion of Sports and Games, Axis Bank supported 224 athletes and para-athletes across 10 Olympic and 8 Paralympic disciplines. The OGQ programme focused on a holistic athlete journey—from talent identification to performance optimisation:
- Athletes were selected based on a mix of quantitative performance metrics and qualitative traits like discipline and mental resilience.
- Regular sports science assessments, mental conditioning, and nutritional guidance were provided to enhance peak performance.
- Through periodic interactions with legends like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Mary Kom, the programme cultivated inspirational role models for India’s sporting youth.
This structured support system contributed to breakthrough performances, including gold medals at global championships and rising representation of India on international sporting platforms.
Sectoral Collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS)
Axis Bank’s foray into sports was amplified through ongoing collaboration with MYAS. CSR representatives participated in national-level roundtables convened by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to shape policy-linked, impact-driven sports programmes.
Axis Bank Judo Development Programme: Grassroots to Global in Manipur: In partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) and Manipur Judo Association, the Bank launched a pioneering grassroots-to-elite development pathway for 157 judokas, with special focus on the conflict-affected Manipur region.
- 104 athletes received structured training at the Imphal-based Judo Academy, with full-time coaches and Sports Science inputs from IIS.
- 53 high-potential athletes were offered camps and trials at IIS’s High Performance Centre in Vijayanagar, Karnataka.
- The programme also included education scholarships, supplementary life skills training, and infrastructure upgrades for the local academy.
This model blends technical excellence with holistic development, ensuring that emerging talent from vulnerable geographies is nurtured with dignity and opportunity.
Major Partnerships in Brief
- Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ): Supported 224 athletes across 10 Olympic and 8 Paralympic disciplines, fostering mental conditioning, nutrition, and performance optimization.
- Axis Bank Judo Development Programme (Manipur): Trained 157 judokas, offering education scholarships and infrastructure support.
- Collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) for policy-linked sports development.
Inspirational stories like Jyoti Berwal’s U20 World Wrestling Championship and Navdeep’s Paralympic gold embody the Bank’s vision of enabling sports as a vehicle of empowerment.
Key CSR Partners
- Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) – supporting 224 athletes and para-athletes across 18 sports
- Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) – talent development in Manipur and Karnataka through the Axis Bank Judo Programme
- Foundation for Promotion of Sports and Games – advancing holistic athlete development
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Humanitarian & Relief
Axis Bank’s disaster response evolved from reactive aid to long-term resilience building, impacting over 7,000 families in Assam, Manipur, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Axis Bank’s humanitarian interventions now integrate immediate relief with long-term resilience.
FY 2024–25 Impact
- 5,794 flood-affected families supported in Assam.
- 15 houses rebuilt for SC/ST families in Kodagu, Karnataka.
- 1,469 displaced families rehabilitated in Manipur.
- In Marathwada (Maharashtra), community water resilience projects implemented with Action for Rural Technology.
Axis Bank’s disaster response prioritizes empathy, inclusion, and systems-led recovery.
Key CSR Partners
- Action for Rural Technology – water resilience in Beed, Maharashtra
- Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd. (KRIDL) – rebuilding homes for landslide-affected families
- Sunbird Trust – relief camps and education for displaced children in Manipur
- Balipara Foundation and Ayang Trust – flood relief and rehabilitation in Assam
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(India CSR)
Also Read: Axis Bank Spends Rs 426.57 Crore on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in FY 2025 I India CSR
