NEW DELHI (India CSR): State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector bank, significantly expanded its commitment to community development and social progress in the Financial Year 2024-25, dedicating a substantial Rs 610.77 Crore towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. This record spending underscores the Bank’s deep-rooted philosophy of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and social progress, directly supporting national development goals. Through a wide array of initiatives spanning healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and more, SBI’s CSR efforts in FY2025 touched the lives of over 65 Lakh people across more than 20,000 villages nationwide.
A Legacy of ‘Innovative Banking’
SBI’s journey in corporate social responsibility is not a recent endeavor. The Bank pioneered this concept nearly five decades ago, introducing it as ‘Innovative Banking’ in 1973. This early commitment focused on assisting marginalized communities and providing avenues for improving their economic conditions. Today, this legacy continues, with CSR viewed as an integral activity through which the Bank acts as a responsible corporate citizen, discharging its social responsibility towards the community. The current strategy integrates economic, environmental, and social objectives to align with national priorities, such as education, green environment, healthcare and sanitation, livelihood, and the empowerment of various societal groups.
Table: SBI Spends Rs 610 Crore on CSR in FY 2025 – Full Breakdown Inside
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CSR Spending (FY2025) | Rs 610.77 Crore |
| Beneficiaries Reached | Over 65 Lakh people |
| Villages Covered | Over 20,000 |
| Total CSR Activities | 1,408 initiatives |
| Projects by SBI Foundation | 180 projects worth Rs 485.83 Cr; Rs 264.00 Cr disbursed |
| States/UTs Covered | All 28 States and 8 Union Territories |
| Aspirational Districts | 339 activities in 94 districts; Rs 16.50 Cr spent |
| Sector-Wise Spending Breakdown – | |
| Healthcare & Sanitation | 35% (Rs 5.00 Cr for PHC upgrades, Rs 3.90 Cr for IISC, Rs 2.72 Cr in Ratnagiri) |
| Education | 27% (Rs 22.89 Cr for schools; Rs 3.17 Cr for orphanages/special schools) |
| Environment | 11% (Tree plantation, solar lights, waste management, rainwater systems) |
| Rural/Slum Area Development | 11% (586 Anganwadi centres upgraded; Rs 5.91 Cr spent) |
| Livelihood | 8% (Rs 21.34 Cr for RSETIs, sewing machines to women) |
| Disaster Management | 6% (Relief in Kerala, Tripura; rescue equipment for Maha Kumbh) |
| Women & Senior Citizens | 2% |
| War Veterans | 2% |
| National Heritage Protection | 1% (₹97.76 Lakh to Dhrupad Sansthan, Bhopal) |
| Sports | 1% |
| Financial Inclusion Highlights – | |
| BSBD Accounts | 18.07 Cr (includes 15.11 Cr under PMJDY) |
| Govt. Scheme Enrollments | PMJJBY: 7.13 Cr; PMSBY: 14.65 Cr; APY: 1.73 Cr |
| Customer Service Points (CSPs) | 78,000 CSPs; 66.22 Cr transactions worth ₹4.27 Lakh Cr |
| Co-lending Model | Rs 4,200 Cr sanctioned to 4 Lakh+ borrowers via 25 NBFCs/HFCs |
| Financial Literacy Initiatives | 341 FLCs and 595 CFLs; 11.79 Lakh people reached |
| Sustainability & ESG Efforts – | |
| Green Deposit Raised | Rs 128.31 Cr (used for green car loans) |
| Carbon Neutrality Goal | By 2030 |
| Net Zero Target | By 2055 |
| CSR Governance | Overseen by CSR Committee of the Board (since 2014) |
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Comprehensive Reach and Diverse Activities
During FY2025, SBI undertook a total of 1,408 CSR activities across India. These initiatives were implemented through both direct action by the Bank and through the SBI Foundation, its dedicated Section 8 company and the CSR arm of the State Bank Group. The Foundation leverages strategic partnerships to maximize social value creation. In FY2025, the SBI Foundation funded 180 projects, valued at Rs 485.83 Crore under the CSR programme, and disbursed Rs 264.00 Crore to create meaningful impact. The Bank ensured pan-India coverage, reaching all 28 States and 8 Union Territories through the Foundation’s operations. A particular focus was placed on Aspirational Districts, with SBI undertaking 339 initiatives in 94 of these districts, ensuring a minimum of three activities were implemented in each. The CSR expenditure specifically allocated to aspirational districts amounted to Rs 16.50 Crore.
Key Areas of Impact
The sources provide a detailed breakdown of the Bank’s sector-wise spending for FY2025, demonstrating a strategic allocation of resources:
1. Healthcare and Sanitation (35%)
Healthcare and Sanitation received the largest share at 35%. Initiatives included upgrading 220 Primary Health Centres across the country with medical equipment and necessary infrastructure (Rs 5.00 Cr). Significant support was given to hospitals and healthcare foundations, such as providing Rs 3.90 Crore for medical instruments at the ENT wing of the IISC, Bengaluru hospital, and Rs 2.72 Crore for upgrading a Primary Health Centre in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, to include Mother and Childcare units. The Bank also supported affordable cancer treatment (Rs 60 Lakhs) and a girls’ immunization project against cervical cancer (Rs 50 Lakh). A water ambulance was also procured in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, to improve healthcare access.
2. Education (27%)
Education accounted for 27% of the spending. This included upgrading infrastructure in 538 primary schools (Rs 22.89 Crore), enhancing schools with smart classrooms and computer labs, and upgrading 139 orphanages and special schools (Rs 3.17 Crore).
3. Environment (11%)
Environment initiatives represented 11%. Key activities included planting over 16 lakh trees nationwide, establishing an Integrated Waste Segregation & Management Centre (Rs 50 Lakh), installing 250 solar power streetlights (Rs 70 Lakh), and setting up rainwater harvesting systems and digging ponds.
4. Rural and Slum Area Development (11%)
Rural and Slum Area Development also received 11%. Upgrading 586 Anganwadi Centres (Rs 5.91 Crore) was a significant part of this.
5. Livelihood (8%)
Livelihood support constituted 8% of the spending. A major component of this was supporting Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). SBI manages 153 RSETIs across 26 states and 3 union territories (or 29 States/UTs), training unemployed rural youth for self-employment. In FY2025, Rs 21.34 Crore was spent on the Bank’s sponsored RSETIs for construction and essential requirements. The model is highlighted as effective in creating sustainable livelihoods. The Bank also contributed to women’s empowerment through initiatives like distributing sewing machines.
6. Other Areas (8%)
Other areas supported included Disaster Management (6%), with relief provided for landslides in Kerala (Rs 1.00 Cr + Rs 39.00 Lakhs) and floods in Tripura (Rs 25.00 Lakhs), and providing equipment like life jackets and robotic rescue buoys for the Maha Kumbh Mela. Support was also extended to War Veterans (2%), Empowerment of Women and Senior Citizens (2%), Protection of National Heritage (1%), and Sports (1%). A notable heritage project involved a Rs 97.76 Lakh spend on technological and infrastructural upgradation of Dhrupad Sansthan in Bhopal.
Empowering Through Financial Inclusion and Literacy
Beyond traditional CSR projects, SBI’s commitment to social good is intrinsically linked to its core business through financial inclusion and literacy efforts. The Bank reported having 18.07 Crore Basic Saving Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts, including 15.11 Crore PMJDY beneficiaries. Cumulative enrolments in government social security schemes like PMJJBY (7.13 Cr), PMSBY (14.65 Cr), and APY (1.73 Cr) were also significant. SBI operates approximately 78,000 Customer Service Points (CSPs) across India, offering 33 products and services, particularly enhancing access for unserved and underserved populations. In FY2025, these CSPs facilitated 66.22 Crore financial transactions totaling Rs 42,7112 Crore. The Bank also partnered with 25 NBFCs and HFCs to sanction loans worth approximately Rs 4,200 Crore to over 4 Lakh borrowers under a co-lending model targeting these populations. To foster financial literacy, SBI established 341 Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) and sponsored 595 Centres for Financial Literacy (CFLs), conducting thousands of camps that reached over 11.79 Lakh participants in FY2025.
Sustainable and Responsible Practices
SBI’s CSR initiatives are increasingly integrated with its broader commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The Bank is working towards carbon neutrality by 2030 and aims for Net Zero emissions by 2055. Financing of green infrastructure and renewable energy projects is a key focus. The Bank raised Rs 128.31 Crore through Green Deposit products in FY2025, deployed to fund green car loans. These efforts demonstrate how the Bank’s responsible approach extends beyond traditional philanthropy to influence its core operations and lending practices.
Overseen by the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the Board, which was first constituted in 2014 to review CSR activities, SBI’s robust spending and wide-ranging projects in FY2025 highlight its enduring role as a key driver of social and economic development across India.
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FAQs: SBI’s CSR spending in FY2025:
1. How much did SBI spend on CSR in FY2025?
SBI spent Rs 610.77 Crore on Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in FY2025.
2. How many people benefited from SBI’s CSR projects?
Over 65 lakh people across India were impacted by SBI’s CSR efforts.
3. What were the main focus areas of SBI’s CSR?
Key areas included healthcare, education, environment, rural development, and livelihood.
4. How many CSR activities did SBI undertake?
SBI implemented 1,408 CSR activities across all states and union territories.
5. What role does the SBI Foundation play in CSR?
The SBI Foundation implemented 180 projects and disbursed ₹264 Crore in FY2025.
6. What is SBI doing for sustainability and green initiatives?
SBI raised Rs 128.31 Crore via Green Deposits and supports renewable energy, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.
(India CSR)
