CSR, NGO and social-sector developments, verified and dated

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor pledge to refurbish 20 BMC-recommended schools in Mumbai

ANI reported on 18 September that actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have pledged to refurbish 20 municipal schools in Mumbai, to be selected on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's recommendation, as their contribution to the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan that opened on 17 September. No budget or implementing foundation was disclosed. The Hindi section of The CSR Journal also carried a same-day report that actor Ranveer Singh plans to fund the education of 1,000 girls, pointing to a wave of celebrity education pledges tied to the campaign.

Why it matters: Shows high-profile donors routing school-infrastructure giving through municipal bodies during the campaign window; Scapex can prepare a costed 'adopt a government school in Ahmedabad' package for AMC schools to pitch to Gujarat-based celebrities, diaspora and HNIs this month.

Source: ANI News

Crisil CSR Yearbook 2026: listed companies' CSR spend up 17.5% to Rs 22,563 crore, education and skilling take 41%

Crisil Foundation's CSR Yearbook 2026, reported on 17 September, finds that 2,013 listed companies spent Rs 22,563 crore on CSR in FY25 (up from Rs 19,208 crore), with 1,364 of them meeting or exceeding the 2% norm. Education and skill development absorbed Rs 9,182 crore (41%, 1,519 companies) and healthcare and sanitation Rs 5,386 crore (24%); environment spend quadrupled to Rs 2,371 crore, while BFSI, manufacturing and energy companies together account for 56% of the total. Crisil flagged that spending remains bunched around the statutory 2% and that only about 10% goes to aspirational districts, with Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka leading and the top 10 states taking roughly 95%.

Why it matters: Fresh, citable numbers for Scapex's CSR partnerships page and pitch deck: education, skilling and health, its core verticals, take two-thirds of listed-company CSR; the environment quadrupling supports its green programmes; and the aspirational-district gap is a positioning angle for rural Gujarat work.

Source: The CSR Universe

Gujarat CM launches 'Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj' in Ahmedabad: 76,000 kitchen-garden saplings for households

On 17 September Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Harit Ghar – Swasth Samaj campaign in Ahmedabad, organised by the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj with the state government, to distribute 76,000 kitchen-garden saplings to households as part of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan that began the same day. The CM linked home vegetable growing to Mission LiFE and natural farming, and the distribution drive received a Golden Book of Records certificate. Separately, Akashvani reported that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the CM opened the state-wide Seva Sankalp Abhiyan from Vadnagar with a cleanliness drive, so service and health activities will run across Gujarat until mid-October.

Why it matters: An Ahmedabad-based, government-backed environment and nutrition campaign Scapex can join immediately by running kitchen-garden and Mission LiFE sessions in its partner communities and schools, and by aligning its September–October volunteering calendar with the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.

Source: The CSR Journal

India's first soil-carbon payments: 2,550 Punjab and Haryana farmers receive Rs 2.9 crore, ICAR-backed

A 17 September PIB release describes the first payments under the 'Aadi' farmer carbon programme run by Grow Indigo with ICAR technical support: 2,550 farmers in Punjab and Haryana shared Rs 2.9 crore (Rs 3,000–15,000 each) for adopting direct-seeded rice, reduced tillage and residue management, verified under Verra's VM0042 methodology, with 50,000-plus credits issued from 30,000 acres. The programme claims over 100,000 farmers across seven states and 2 million acres, and estimates 45 billion litres of water saved and 200,000 tonnes of residue kept from burning. It signals that carbon finance is now a recognised, government-endorsed income stream for smallholders.

Why it matters: Scapex's rural-development and environment verticals could aggregate small farmers in Gujarat for carbon-credit or natural-farming programmes and use ICAR-verified outcomes as the evidence base in CSR proposals.

Source: Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare)

Carrier India's ALLWAYS programme trains Gurugram delivery riders on heat and extreme-weather safety

Carrier India launched its ALLWAYS Community Program on 17 September in Gurugram with United Way Delhi as implementing partner, targeting the city's roughly 5,000–6,000 daily active delivery riders. The CSR project distributes 5,000 protective kits (reusable bottles, electrolytes, wipes, sanitiser and weather-specific gear) and trains riders to recognise early signs of heat stress and risks from heavy rain, cold waves and poor air quality. Carrier says it will extend the model to other outdoor-worker groups and cities.

Why it matters: Ahmedabad's heat-action context and large gig-worker population make an equivalent worker-health project a credible proposal to Carrier, logistics platforms or Gujarat industrial CSR desks, with Scapex as the local implementing NGO.

Source: The CSR Universe

MyGov opens 'Peyjal Gatha' national water stories and ideas challenge for Class VIII–XII students (deadline 8 December)

The Peyjal Gatha challenge, live on MyGov since 9 September with submissions open until 8 December 2026, invites students of Classes VIII–XII in any recognised school to submit original PDF entries under four themes: personal or community drinking-water stories, traditional water knowledge, youth-led affordable water solutions, and studies of local water bodies. Shortlisted students receive a Certificate of National Recognition. There is no cash grant, but it is a low-cost, nationally branded activity NGOs can run in partner schools.

Why it matters: Scapex can run Peyjal Gatha workshops in its Ahmedabad partner schools this term, generating student-authored content, national certificates and material for its environment and education pages.

Source: MyGov (Government of India)

Coal Ministry launches India's first sector-wide CSR framework, prepared by IICA

On 8 September Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy released the first sector-specific CSR framework since the Companies Act 2013 mandate, drafted by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs for Coal India and other coal companies. The framework pushes outcome-oriented, locally planned and measurable CSR in healthcare, education, livelihoods and community development, and builds on flagship health programmes such as Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (1,050-plus bone marrow transplants, Rs 130 crore outlay) and Nanha Sa Dil (1,500-plus paediatric heart surgeries, 200,000 children screened), delivered with NGOs like Thalassemics India and empanelled hospitals. It is a template other PSU sectors may follow.

Why it matters: PSU CSR is moving to structured, outcome-based frameworks with named NGO partners; Scapex's proposals to PSUs operating in Gujarat should mirror this format (needs assessment, measurable outcomes, monitoring plan) and reference the IICA framework.

Source: Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Coal)

New FCRA Rules (notified 22 June 2026) tighten renewal: activity- and state-specific registration, and a minimum utilisation threshold

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on 22 June 2026, change what an FCRA-registered organisation must declare and demonstrate. Registration now has to name the exact purposes and the States or Union Territories of activity from a prescribed Schedule rather than a broad category; renewal requires the organisation to show it has utilised at least Rs 10 lakh of foreign contribution over the preceding two years; and annual returns must give project- and activity-wise utilisation together with full identification of the ultimate foreign donor. The 20% cap on administrative expenses and the prohibition on sub-granting to other associations are not new in 2026 — both came in with the 2020 amendment and continue to apply.

Why it matters: Scapex holds no FCRA registration and accepts no foreign contributions, so none of this applies today. It matters for planning: the Rs 10 lakh utilisation threshold and the activity- and state-specific registration shape what an FCRA application would have to look like when Scapex becomes eligible (earliest 2028).

Correction: Corrected 18 Sep 2026 before publication: an earlier draft of this item attributed the 20% administrative-expense cap and the sub-granting ban to the 2026 rules. Both date from the 2020 amendment. The 2026 rules change registration scope, renewal thresholds and reporting.

Source: TaxGuru — FCRA framework, 2026 Amendment Bill and Rules

CBDT condones the delay only where Form 10AB was already filed between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026; orders due by 31 December 2026

CBDT Circular No. 06/2026 (F. No. 300176/3/2026-ITA-I) condones the delay in filing Form 10AB electronically for approval under clause (ii) of the first proviso to section 80G(5), for funds and institutions whose approval expired on 31 March 2026 and which missed the 30 September 2025 due date. The condonation applies only where Form 10AB had already been furnished electronically between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026 — it is not an open window for a fresh late filing now. The jurisdictional Principal Commissioner or Commissioner must pass an order on or before 31 December 2026. Paragraph 5 states that nothing in the circular confers any automatic entitlement to approval.

Why it matters: Directly relevant to Scapex's 80G position: verify that its 12AB/80G validity dates and Form 10AB timelines are tracked, and use the 31 December 2026 processing deadline as a compliance-calendar checkpoint before soliciting year-end donations.

Correction: An earlier version of this item said the circular let institutions file delayed renewal applications. It does not. Re-read against the Income Tax Department's own PDF of the circular, it rescues applications already filed in that window.

Source: Income Tax Department — CBDT Circular No. 06/2026

Social Venture Partners India makes the case for 'engaged philanthropy' over cheque-writing

In an interview published 17 September, SVP India CEO Ambuj Kumar argued that India 'doesn't have a generosity problem - it has a proximity problem': grassroots NGOs stay invisible to funders. He pushes a model where donors add governance support, professional expertise and networks to money, citing partner Biome Environmental Trust growing fundraising from Rs 2.84 crore to Rs 4.18 crore and Vidyoday Muktangan Parivar from Rs 27 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. The piece signals that Indian funders are increasingly judging NGOs on institutional strength, not just programme spend.

Why it matters: Scapex's governance board, audited accounts and transparent reporting are exactly what 'engaged' funders screen for; worth foregrounding on the About/Governance pages and in CSR pitches.

Source: The CSR Universe

Government kicks off Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, asking schools and citizens to own cleanliness

The Centre launched the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign from 17 September, with Union Minister C R Patil framing it as a shift of cleanliness 'from an official programme to a shared societal responsibility'. The campaign promotes green festivities, four-way waste segregation, e-waste drives, recognition of sanitation workers, school and college awareness through 'Swachhata Pathshala', and mass cleanliness drives on 1 October. Voluntary organisations are a standard delivery channel for these activities at district and ward level.

Why it matters: A ready-made hook for Scapex's environment and school programmes in Ahmedabad: run Swachhata Pathshala sessions and a 1 October shramdaan drive, and document them for CSR partners.

Source: Deccan Herald

HPCL commits Rs 16 crore CSR to smart classrooms in 29 tribal residential schools

NSTFDC and Hindustan Petroleum signed an MoU, under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, to equip 29 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 11 Rajasthan districts with interactive classrooms, computer labs, tablets with exam coaching and internet. The Rs 16.01 crore CSR project is to be completed in six months and will reach more than 10,000 Scheduled Tribe students a year with equal representation of girls. It shows PSUs routing CSR through government-run institutions rather than only NGOs.

Why it matters: Template for a digital-classroom proposal to PSU CSR desks (HPCL, IOCL, ONGC have Gujarat operations); Scapex can position itself as the implementing partner for government or tribal schools in Gujarat.

Source: ANI News

UNICEF invites proposals for adolescent-led child protection and media work in Tripura (deadline 23 September)

UNICEF has issued a request for applications for organisations to strengthen child protection in Tripura's high-burden districts through ethical media reporting, journalist training, adolescent-led reporting via existing clubs and journalist-Panchayat prevention interfaces. Applicants must show child-protection programming experience and safeguarding and informed-consent procedures; applications go through the UN Partner Portal by 23 September 2026. The call illustrates the kind of documentation UN agencies now expect from NGO partners.

Why it matters: Geographically out of scope, but Scapex should register on the UN Partner Portal and build a child-safeguarding policy so it can respond when UNICEF Gujarat issues similar calls.

Source: fundsforNGOs

Catalysts for Social Action: over 4,000 care leavers supported, success measured as two years of steady work

A 15 September piece by CSA CEO Smitha Shetty describes the organisation's aftercare programme for young people ageing out of child care institutions, now working across 124 institutions in six states with an alumni network of more than 1,200. CSA defines success as 'two years of sustained employment' and argues that state support for care leavers should be understood as care rather than welfare. It is a strong example of outcome-based reporting in child welfare.

Why it matters: Points to an under-served niche (aftercare for care leavers) that Scapex's child-welfare and skills verticals could combine, and offers a clear outcome metric to copy in impact reports.

Source: The CSR Universe

Veolia Foundation mobile clinic reaches 4,200+ patients across 25 villages in Bharuch, Gujarat

Veolia Foundation's 'Clinic on Wheels', run day-to-day by Wockhardt Foundation, is delivering primary care in the Jambusar and Ankleshwar belts of Bharuch district. Between March and May 2026 it logged 4,227 consultations (3,465 new patients, 762 follow-ups), referred 152 patients onward, and ran 13 awareness sessions for 323 people, with a target of 25-30 villages and 20,000+ residents a year. The model pairs a corporate funder with an NGO operator and reports operational uptime (94%) alongside health outcomes.

Why it matters: Directly comparable to Scapex's health-camp work in Gujarat; shows the metrics (consultations, referrals, uptime) CSR funders in the state expect and identifies Bharuch industrial-belt companies as prospects.

Source: The CSR Universe

9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah launched with theme 'Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari'

The Ministry of Women and Child Development opened the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah from Varanasi on 9 September under Union Minister Annpurna Devi, putting Anganwadi Centres at the centre of community-led nutrition action. The 2026 edition draws on revised Supplementary Nutrition Programme guidelines that now mandate hot cooked meals and SNP menu boards and set criteria for Anganwadi Management Committees, with priorities on dietary diversity, protein intake, community oversight and early childhood stimulation.

Why it matters: Scapex's child-welfare and women's programmes can plug into Poshan Maah activities at Ahmedabad Anganwadis this month and cite the new SNP hot-cooked-meal norms in nutrition proposals.

Source: Akashvani News (newsonair.gov.in)

Bisleri and State Bank of India team up on workplace plastic waste under 'Bottles for Change'

Bisleri International and SBI formalised a partnership on 5 September to promote responsible plastic segregation and recycling, starting with training and awareness for SBI staff and housekeeping teams and extending to institutions, housing societies and communities. SBI MD Ravi Ranjan linked it to the bank's net-zero-by-2055 goal. The report gives no tonnage or branch figures, so treat it as a programme announcement rather than an impact result.

Why it matters: Bottles for Change already works with local collection partners; Scapex's environment vertical could propose Ahmedabad housing-society or school segregation drives to Bisleri or SBI's Gujarat circle.

Source: The CSR Journal

CII: India's CSR now above Rs 40,000 crore a year, but execution and impact measurement lag

At the CII National CSR Summit 2026 in Mumbai (2 September), CII National CSR Committee chairman B Thiagarajan said India's annual CSR spend has crossed Rs 40,000 crore, with more than Rs 6,000 crore going to education and skilling, and that the challenge has shifted from compliance to getting projects executed and impact measured. CII called for more even spread of funds across sectors and regions, stronger corporate-NGO-community partnerships and standardised impact-assessment frameworks.

Why it matters: Reinforces the pitch that companies need credible implementing partners with measurable outcomes; Scapex's CSR page should speak the language of impact assessment and execution capacity.

Source: India CSR

31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee formed on FCRA Amendment Bill; report due by Winter Session

Parliament constituted a 31-member JPC (21 Lok Sabha, 10 Rajya Sabha) chaired by BJP's Sanjay Jaiswal to examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, after the Lok Sabha referred it on 12 August. The Bill, introduced on 25 March, proposes tighter oversight of NGOs' foreign funding and a mechanism to manage the assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled; the committee must report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session. Opposition MPs say it targets minority-run institutions, which the government denies.

Why it matters: Scapex currently relies on domestic and CSR funds, but any future foreign-donor plan should wait for the JPC outcome; the site's compliance page can note the Bill is under committee review rather than law.

Source: The Federal

Wipro earthian 2026 school sustainability competition open until 30 September

Wipro Foundation's earthian programme invites teams of 2-5 students from Grades 6-12 at any Indian school, with a teacher coordinator, to submit hands-on project work plus an analytical essay on Water, Biodiversity or Waste by 30 September 2026. Twenty-five teams receive Rs 50,000 each, recognition at an annual event and continued engagement in sustainability education; all participating teams get certificates. Verified against the official Wipro Foundation competition page.

Why it matters: Scapex can enrol its partner government/low-income schools in Ahmedabad this month, which builds a track record with Wipro Foundation, a major education funder.

Source: Wipro Foundation (via fundsforNGOs listing)

India's CSR outlay hits a record Rs 40,794 crore in FY 2024-25; Gujarat the fastest-growing state

India CSR's analysis of FY 2024-25 data puts total CSR spend at Rs 40,794 crore, up 17%, from 29,546 companies across 72,233 projects; education took Rs 13,877 crore (34%) and healthcare Rs 8,531 crore (21%). Maharashtra received the most (Rs 8,631 crore) while Gujarat was the fastest-growing destination at 68% growth. Reliance Industries (Rs 1,309 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 1,039 crore) and TCS (Rs 949 crore) were the top spenders.

Why it matters: Hard numbers for Scapex's CSR pitch deck and website: Gujarat is the fastest-growing CSR destination and education plus health absorb 55% of funds, matching Scapex's core verticals.

Source: India CSR

MCA lets companies route up to 10% of CSR through Social Stock Exchange ZCZP instruments

The Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on 27 May 2026 (G.S.R. 415(E)), allow companies to deploy up to 10% of annual CSR spend by subscribing to Zero Coupon Zero Principal instruments issued by NGOs registered on the Social Stock Exchange segment. Projects must be completed within three financial years, unspent money goes to Schedule VII funds, compliance reports go to SEBI, and subscribing companies are exempt from impact assessment on those projects. It opens a new, audited CSR channel for listed non-profits.

Why it matters: Once Scapex has three years of audited accounts, SSE registration becomes a realistic route to CSR money; worth flagging in the roadmap and on the CSR partnerships page.

Source: The Tribune