Best CSR Education Initiative
Recognises corporates, corporate foundations, and their implementation partners for outstanding investment in education CSR, backed by credible, well-documented evidence of impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Organisations applying for the award must meet the following eligibility requirements.
Eligible Entities
Companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013 with CSR obligations under Section 135; corporate foundations and trusts; and NGO/foundation partners implementing a corporate-funded education programme.
Funding Source
The nominated initiative must be funded through the company's CSR budget under Schedule VII (education, skilling, or livelihood-linked education) or an equivalent structured corporate-giving mechanism.
Spend Threshold
Minimum CSR spend of ₹25 lakh on the nominated initiative in the preceding financial year. This may be waived for first-year or pilot initiatives that demonstrate strong early outcomes, at the jury's discretion.
Programme Maturity
The initiative must have been under implementation for at least 12 months at the time of nomination.
Documentation
CSR-1 registration (where applicable) and CSR expenditure should be traceable through the Annual Report, Board Report, or Form CSR-2.
Implementation Model
Both directly-implemented (in-house CSR team) and partner-implemented (through an NGO/foundation) programmes are eligible.
Exclusions
Initiatives limited to one-time infrastructure creation, asset donation, or grant disbursement without an associated learning-outcome component; entities with pending CSR non-compliance findings.
Programme Focus
The initiative should address one or more of the following education domains.
Evaluation Criteria
Every nomination is independently reviewed by the jury using the weighted evaluation framework below.
Cost Effectiveness
Assesses how efficiently CSR funds create measurable educational impact.
Learning Outcomes
Evaluates improvements in student learning, participation, and access to education.
Implementation Quality
Reviews programme design, execution, governance, and partnerships.
Strategic Alignment
Measures alignment with Schedule VII, NEP, and national education priorities.
Transparency & Reporting
Assesses reporting quality, documentation, and independent evaluation.