Doing Good Index 2024: India’s Social Sector Needs More Support from Government, Corporates

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 29: The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) , GuideStar India and the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP) collaborated to present India’s performance on the Doing Good Index 2024 report.

The biennial study highlights the policies and incentives that can maximize philanthropic giving and foster a thriving and effective social sector. In 2024, India maintained its position in the ‘Doing Okay’ cluster, unchanged since 2018, revealing areas of strength as well as opportunities for India to further nurture its social sector.

“There is a profound trust deficit, and it is getting more serious,” said Dr. Ruth Shapiro, CEO and Co-Founder of CAPS, “In fact, 44% say they are trusted by society, which is down from 2022 when 55% felt that way. Additionally, only 26% say they are trusted by government, which helps us to understand the increasingly stringent regulatory environment. We need to do more to build trust.”

“Wealth in India is growing, and encouragingly, we are seeing private philanthropy – especially family philanthropy, retail giving and CSR – growing alongside it,” said Pushpa Aman Singh, Founder of GuideStar India, “Domestic philanthropy has a real potential to help tackle social problems in India, and the social sector wants to see continued support from the government through enabling regulations. The Social Stock Exchange is a good step by the government to promote domestic private philanthropy, but it needs continued nurturing.”

“The regulations governing India’s social sector have seen a number of changes in the past few years, including changes to the income tax regime, which have made sub-granting increasingly difficult for grantmaking foundations,” said Noshir Dadrawala, CEO of Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP), “For social sector organizations in India, keeping up with the changing regulatory landscape is not easy.”

India’s performance on the Doing Good Index 2024

  1. The role of social sector organizations remains important
  • 69% of organizations in India report that the number of beneficiaries they reach and demand for their services has increased in the past 12 months, while 76% report increased demand for their services or products.
  • 76% of social sector organizations in India feel optimistic about their organization’s future, and 69% feel optimistic about the social sector as a whole.
  1. The use of digital technology by the social sector in Asia is on the rise, but some organizations need more support
  • Social sector organizations in India are increasingly utilizing digital technology. 81% use digital technology to carry out their work, with 99% intending to increase their use of digital technology in the next two years.
  • While 89% of organizations in India have sufficient access to the Internet (above the Asian average of 84%), just 52% report having sufficient access to computers and tablets for their staff.
  • Social sector organizations are insufficiently protected against digital threats. Just 23% of surveyed organizations in India have a cybersecurity plan, and only 21% have undertaken staff training to help prevent cyber-attacks.
  1. Government continues to send mixed messages on social sector regulations
  • India’s registration process for social sector organizations requires two clearances and takes around 125 days, comparable to the Asian average of three clearances and 123 days.
  • However, laws pertaining to the social sector are not easy to understand, with 67% of organizations in India finding it difficult, higher than the Asian average of 55%.
  • On a positive note, 72% of social sector organizations in India believe that social sector laws are generally enforced, above the Asian average of 63%.
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