D K Shivakumar Pushes CSR Partnerships to Transform 2,000 Government Schools

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has called on industries, particularly the state’s technology companies, to partner with the government through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to strengthen rural education, bridge the digital divide and expose children to technology from the primary level.

Speaking at the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association (G BITCIA) Vision 2030 – CSR Summit 2026 in Bengaluru on Friday, Shivakumar said Karnataka’s CSR ecosystem should be used more effectively to ensure rural children receive quality educational opportunities.

The state has announced plans to develop 2,000 government schools through CSR support. Companies can adopt schools and directly undertake projects involving computers, laboratories, buildings, vehicles and other infrastructure, while the government provides land and necessary assistance.

Shivakumar said CSR should be viewed as an investment in society and the future of children, rather than merely assistance to the government. He cited initiatives by Infosys and Wipro and urged major private schools to adopt at least one government school and help improve infrastructure and teaching quality.

The push comes as Karnataka seeks to utilise a larger share of its CSR potential. Shivakumar said the state could attract nearly ₹10,000 crore annually through CSR, while spending during 2024-25 was around ₹3,394 crore.

India’s CSR framework requires eligible companies meeting specified financial thresholds to spend at least 2% of their average net profits over the preceding three financial years on activities listed under Schedule VII of the Companies Act. However, the Centre has clarified that there is no prescribed sector-wise percentage allocation within CSR spending.

Companies reported more than ₹1.44 lakh crore in CSR expenditure between 2019-20 and 2023-24, with annual spending rising from ₹24,965.82 crore to ₹34,908.75 crore. The framework also provides for impact assessment of specified projects by companies with an average CSR obligation of ₹10 crore or more.

The government has also expanded CSR mechanisms in 2026 by allowing subscription to Zero Coupon Zero Principal instruments on Social Stock Exchanges, with such expenditure capped at 10% of a company’s annual CSR spending.

The Karnataka initiative could provide a template for other technology hubs such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Gurugram and Noida, enabling companies to support rural schools through digital education, STEM training, teacher development and employability programmes.

Shivakumar has also proposed a separate IAS officer to monitor CSR utilisation. The broader challenge, however, is to move from measuring how much companies spend to measuring what lasting social impact that investment creates.