The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in collaboration with WNS Global Services, launched the IICA-WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Program on November 11, 2025. The Ybrant Program aims to prepare students for leadership roles that align business performance with positive social impact. The program is designed as a blended learning model. The 6 month program includes 22.5 hours of academic sessions with 18 hours of fieldwork. It has 15 modules, learner will have weekly live sessions with IICA faculty and industry experts, and everything is hosted on IICA's online Learning Management System. India's CSR expenditure has grown from ₹10,065.93 crores in FY 2014–15 to ₹34,908.75 crores in FY 2023–24. The event was attended by more than 250 student participants from five premier academic institutions. The event was graced by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA; Mr. Gopal Agarwal, Head CSR, WNS Global Services. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Ankita Sharma, Senior Research Associate, IICA, and was moderated by Ms. Sana Farid, Research Associate, IICA.
Key Entities Referenced
IICA-WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Program: A program launched by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) in collaboration with WNS Global Services to integrate CSR, ESG, and sustainability into management education.
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA): An organization involved in launching the Ybrant program, providing faculty and hosting the online learning management system.
WNS Global Services: A collaborator with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) in launching the Ybrant program.
CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility, a key aspect integrated into the Ybrant program along with ESG and Sustainability.
ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance, a key aspect integrated into the Ybrant program along with CSR and Sustainability.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
IICA and WNS Global Services launch YBRANT
programme on CSR, ESG & Sustainability
Programme aims to prepare students for leadership roles
that align business performance with positive social
impact
India’s CSR expenditure has grown from ₹10,065.93 crores
in FY 2014–15 to ₹34,908.75 crores in FY 2023–24 : CEO
and DG, IICA
Posted On: 11 NOV 2025 9:29PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in collaboration with WNS Global Services,
successfully launched the IICA–WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Program on 11th
November 2025. The event was graced by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO,
IICA; Mr. Gopal Agarwal, Head CSR, WNS Global Services.
In his address, Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh emphasized that the Ybrant Program marks a
strategic step toward nurturing a new generation of sustainability-driven and socially responsible
leaders. Through the IICA–WNS Ybrant Program, 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 highlighted how India’s CSR expenditure has grown from ₹10,065.93 crores in FY 2014–15 to
₹34,908.75 crores in FY 2023–24, and more than 2.2 lakh crores have been spent on CSR in the last
10 years by the companies, reflecting a maturing ecosystem that demands convergence between
business strategy, sustainability, and governance. At this stage, the CSR ecosystem needs a cadre of
professionals who understand the balance between just profit making and a responsible business
conduct which focusses on sustainable business practices which has beneficial societal impact.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gopal Agarwal said that the Ybrant Program is a strategic
collaboration initiative among Govt., Corporate sector and the 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. It is designed as a blended learning model integrating academic rigour with
industry insights, aims to equip students with practical exposure, case study-based learning, and
certification through IICA’s digital credential system verifiable through QR code, Digi-locker, and
even shareable on Linked.
Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Head-Centre for Excellence in CSR & Corporate Citizenship at IICA while
welcoming the participants and guests informed that the program duration is six months and combines
22.5 hours of academic sessions with 18 hours of fieldwork. It has 15 modules — starting with the
basics of CSR and sustainability and moving into themes like global CSR trends, Indian CSR laws,
impact assessment, ESG reporting, corporate governance, and leadership. Learner will have weekly
live sessions with IICA faculty and industry experts, and everything is hosted on IICA’s online
Learning Management System, so it’s accessible from anywhere in India and abroad.
The event was attended by more than 250 student participants from five premier academic institutions
including 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 Ms. Sana Farid, Research Associate, IICA.
*****NB/PK
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