New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in collaboration with WNS Global Services, launched the IICA–WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Programme on 11 November 2025. The event was attended by Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General and CEO, IICA, and Gopal Agarwal, Head CSR, WNS Global Services.
In his address, Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh said that the Ybrant Programme marks a strategic step towards nurturing a new generation of sustainability-driven and socially responsible leaders. “Through the IICA–WNS Ybrant Programme, we aim to bring CSR, ESG, and sustainability into mainstream management education. The idea is to prepare students for leadership roles that align business performance with positive social impact. This way, together, we will be nurturing the next generation of responsible leaders in India – the future leaders who see business not just as a means for profit, but as a force multiplier for sustainable and inclusive development,” he said.
He highlighted that India’s CSR expenditure has grown from ₹10,065.93 crore in FY 2014–15 to ₹34,908.75 crore in FY 2023–24, with more than ₹2.2 lakh crore spent on CSR in the last decade. This reflects a maturing ecosystem that requires convergence between business strategy, sustainability, and governance. He added that there is now a need for professionals who understand the balance between profit-making and responsible business conduct focused on sustainable practices with societal impact.
Speaking on the occasion, Gopal Agarwal said that the Ybrant Programme is a strategic collaboration among the government, corporate sector, and academia. “The idea is to catch them young so that future CEOs will imbibe the perspective of sustainable development while they are young and learning,” he said. Designed as a blended learning model, the programme integrates academic rigour with industry insights and offers practical exposure, case-based learning, and certification through IICA’s digital credential system, verifiable through QR code, DigiLocker, and LinkedIn.
Mukesh Kumar, Head of the Centre for Excellence in CSR & Corporate Citizenship at IICA, informed that the six-month programme combines 22.5 hours of academic sessions with 18 hours of fieldwork. It includes 15 modules covering CSR, sustainability, global trends, Indian CSR laws, impact assessment, ESG reporting, corporate governance, and leadership. Learners will have weekly live sessions with IICA faculty and industry experts through IICA’s online Learning Management System, accessible from anywhere in India and abroad.
The launch event saw participation from more than 250 students representing five academic institutions — IIM Shillong, CHRIST University Bengaluru, Banasthali Vidyapeeth Rajasthan, Symbiosis International (Deemed to be University) Pune, and St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Mangalore.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Ankita Sharma, Senior Research Associate, IICA, and was moderated by Sana Farid, Research Associate, IICA.
BI Bureau
