ICICI Bank’s ESG initiatives positively impact over 1.98 crore lives; CSR allocation rises to Rs 994 crore
ICICI Bank and its CSR arm, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, continues to strengthen commitment to sustainable development, as highlighted in its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report for FY26. The Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) allocation stood at ₹994 crore in FY26, up from ₹801 crore in FY25. Through the initiatives undertaken by the Foundation across healthcare, plantation, water conservation, skilling and livelihoods, sports infrastructure development and financial literacy, it has positively impacted over 1.98 crore people across India till March 31, 2026.
Pradeep Kumar Sinha, Chairman, ICICI Bank said, “ At ICICI Bank, we are committed to supporting India’s sustainable development plans and have aligned our strategic priorities with the country’s aspirations. With over seven decades of operations, our journey has remained closely intertwined with India’s progress. Our service orientation, anchored in responsibility and trust, forms an integral part of our approach to sustainable growth.”
Affordable healthcare
Healthcare remained the Foundation’s largest area of CSR focus in FY26, with programmes focussing on strengthening access to affordable healthcare for non-communicable diseases. The interventions focussed on cancer care, cardiac care and vision care, benefitting 5 lakh individuals during the year and over 30 lakh individuals through 600 hospitals since 2020.
The Foundation continued to strengthen cancer care through partnerships with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to develop an oncology research and innovation centre. With Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), it commenced the construction on dedicated cancer care blocks in Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai as part of the Foundation’s larger commitment.
The Foundation also partnered with 15 institutions across the National Cancer Grid (NCG) to expand access to affordable cancer care. Beyond oncology, the Foundation supported four cardiac care institutions with advanced surgical and diagnostic equipment to strengthen emergency care. It also continued to expand access to quality vision care through partnerships with renowned health institutions focused on enhancing institutional capacity in both rural and urban India.
Skilling & livelihood
The Foundation continued to prioritise skilling and rural livelihoods by aligning its programmes with evolving industry needs and investing in rural value chains. In FY26, these initiatives benefited 3.54 lakh individuals, taking the cumulative number of beneficiaries to 94.5 lakh.
The Foundation initiated the upgradation of 9 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) through 22 Industry 4.0 laboratories, equipping learners with skills in emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, semiconductor technology, electric vehicles, industrial automation, 3D printing and AR/VR. It also supported the Central Manufacturing Facility at IIT Delhi with advanced manufacturing equipment to strengthen innovation and research capabilities.
In FY26, the Foundation collaborated with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to promote sustainable agriculture and climate resilience through various initiatives. It has supported 8 research institutes across 8 states and 7 universities in 6 states.
Community development
ICICI Foundation expanded its community development initiatives in FY26, with a focus on sports infrastructure and financial literacy. It partnered with around 80 institutions; including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres to strengthen sports infrastructure and support para-athletes.
The Foundation also continued to promote financial literacy through structured programmes conducted in partnership with the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) and NIIT Foundation. Since the programme’s inception, it has reached over 2.76 lakh participants through around 2,100 sessions.
The Bank, strengthened women’s livelihoods through Self-Help Group (SHG) lending. Since 2011, the Bank has extended SHG loans exceeding ₹35,500 crore, benefiting over 1.2 crore women, including 8.9 lakh in FY26.
Environmental impact
On sustainability, the Bank continued to strengthen its ESG framework through responsible financing, energy efficiency and environmental conservation. It reduced its Scope 1 emissions by 32% in FY26 and remains on track to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by FY32. The Bank’s outstanding sustainable financing portfolio stood at ₹99,385 crore as of March 31, 2026, including ₹30,704 crore of green financing.
The Foundation continued its efforts towards environmental conservation, supporting ecological restoration across 83 forests. During the year, it planted 86,600 trees, taking the cumulative total to 50 lakh since FY22, and created an additional 490 million litres of water recharge and storage capacity, raising the cumulative capacity to 3,437 crore litres.
“We are committed to contributing to the nation’s growth through holistic value creation. By providing the much-required capital to scale renewable energy and environmentally responsible infrastructure, we will continue to support India’s transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy.” Sinha said.