Pal was previously associated with the World Economic Forum for nearly five years.
MUMBAI (India CSR): Kanika Pal has joined DBS Bank India as Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), taking charge of the bank’s CSR function. The appointment brings a social-impact professional with experience across corporate sustainability, livelihoods and multi-stakeholder engagement into a leadership role at the bank.
Pal was previously associated with the World Economic Forum for nearly five years. Her last role there was Policy Leadership Council Member – Social Economy, according to reports on the appointment. Before that, she spent more than eight years with Hindustan Unilever, where she served as Sustainability Director (Social) and led the development and evolution of the company’s CSR livelihoods strategy. She is also a member of the CII National Committee on CSR. Exchange4media
New CSR Leadership
As Head of CSR, Pal will lead DBS Bank India’s corporate social responsibility function. The role sits within a structured CSR framework governed by the bank’s Board-level CSR Committee and its CSR policy. DBS Bank India’s policy states that its CSR agenda is intended to contribute to the social and economic development of communities, including communities where the bank operates, with a focus on supporting weaker sections of society.
The bank’s CSR policy provides for project identification, legal and compliance clearance, programme implementation, monitoring and reporting. It also states that the CSR Committee oversees approved projects and fund disbursals, while the annual action plan covers projects, implementation modalities, utilisation of funds, schedules and monitoring mechanisms. DBS Bank India CSR Policy
DBS India Programmes
DBS Bank India’s current CSR programmes for FY 2025–26 span livelihoods, skills training, women’s entrepreneurship, health, education, nutrition, environmental restoration, disability inclusion and disaster rehabilitation. Its listed implementing partners include TRRAIN Foundation, Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal, Bal Raksha Bharat, Sambhav Foundation, RAAH Foundation, Akshaya Patra Foundation, Doctors For You, Anudip Foundation, Project Concern International, Action Aid Association and Mitti Foundation.
Among the listed projects are livelihood skills training and employment support for youth and persons with disabilities; entrepreneurship training for rural women; maternal and neonatal health support; education and nutrition assistance; healthcare units for low-income communities; deep-tech skills training for youth; eye-care support for rural women; and livelihood rehabilitation for flood-affected communities. DBS Bank India
Foundation Focus Areas
DBS Foundation, the group’s social-impact platform, identifies essential needs and inclusion as key focus areas. Its work includes food and nutrition, education, physical and mental health, financial and digital literacy, financial planning, access to financial services and employment-related opportunities.
The bank also runs the People of Purpose employee-volunteering movement, which focuses on the elderly, education and the environment across DBS’s key markets. DBS Bank India says its CSR initiatives may be implemented directly with employee involvement or through eligible implementing agencies, subject to internal screening and applicable legal requirements.
Pal’s appointment places an executive with prior experience in corporate livelihood strategy and social-economy engagement at the helm of this CSR portfolio.
Key Facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointee | Kanika Pal |
| New role | Senior Vice President and Head – CSR |
| Organisation | DBS Bank India |
| Previous experience | World Economic Forum; Hindustan Unilever |
| HUL role | Sustainability Director (Social) |
| CSR committee role | Board oversight of policy, projects, spending and monitoring |
| FY 2025–26 focus | Livelihoods, health, education, inclusion, environment and disaster rehabilitation |
