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About Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee
About Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee
Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee is widely celebrated as the Father of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India, a visionary who placed “CSR – The Indian Way” on the global stage. His pioneering work transformed CSR from a peripheral activity into a legislated national force for inclusive growth, making India the only country in the world with a mandatory CSR law.
As Secretary to the Government of India, he pioneered the first CSR and Sustainability Guidelines for Public Sector Enterprises and played a pivotal role in shaping Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. The law required eligible companies to spend at least 2% of their average net profits on CSR initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His Chatterjee Model embedded CSR at the Board level, with transparency and accountability, and focused resources on education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, rural development, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. Overcoming initial corporate resistance and bureaucratic skepticism, Dr. Chatterjee set international benchmarks for responsible business conduct. Based on his model of nation building known as the “Chatterjee Model”, he was instrumental in framing and issuing the CSR guidelines for the Central Public Sector CPSE in April 2010 as a pioneering step to institutionalize CSR in India and bridging the gap between the Corporate and the social sector.
Dr. Chatterjee has held numerous prestigious senior positions in the Government of India, including Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises, where he was responsible for formulating policies for Central Public Sector Enterprises; Principal Adviser in the Planning Commission, contributing to national policy formulation and strategic planning; and Director General & CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an apex think-tank and training institute under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. At IICA, he spearheaded the establishment and growth of the National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR), a pioneering platform aimed at fostering CSR excellence, building corporate partnerships, and advancing sustainable development initiatives across the country.
As CEO of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, he coordinated and oversaw the entire gamut of CSR activities carried out by the Vedanta Group across 16 Business Units. He also supervised the four National Priority Programs in the sectors of education and nutrition for women and children, rural health, animal welfare and women’s empowerment.
An accomplished academic with postgraduate degrees in History and Business Administration, an M.Phil, Ph.D., and LLB, Dr. Chatterjee has, over many years, written, lectured, and authored influential books—including Human Resource Management – A Contemporary Text, Leadership India, and Sustainable Futures – Imperatives for Managing the Social Agenda—on issues of Social and Sustainable Development, Business Responsibility, ESG, and Human Resources. He is widely acknowledged as the primary force behind introducing a new paradigm to CSR, providing it with an innovative and strategic vision.
A strong advocate for responsible management and sustainable development, he has worked closely with the UN Global Compact, NITI Aayog, and national and international bodies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG practices. Currently, he is the Chairman, National Committee for Formulation of Indian National ESG Standards. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Govt. of India, where he leads initiatives focused on carbon neutrality, water positivity, and green innovation.
Beyond legislation, Dr. Chatterjee is shaping CSR as a recognized professional discipline. Partnering with academic institutions across India, he is working to train 50,000 CSR professionals to serve 28,000 corporations and 60,000 civil society organizations, opening new employment avenues for youth.
His work has earned him multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, including the 2024 honour presented by the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra in the presence of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and cNehru Award for Literacy and Education – Conferred by Hon'ble Vice President of India on July 30, 2018
Dr. Chatterjee’s life’s work has redefined CSR as a moral and national imperative, impacting millions and creating a model admired worldwide. His vision continues to inspire policymakers, corporates, NGOs, and youth, proving that one man’s persistence can change the trajectory of a nation’s development.
Recent Events
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY SECTOR LAUNCH EVENT
- GURUGRAM
SEPT 22, 2025
The EBG Federation launched its first-ever CSR & Sustainability Sector Committee in Gurugram, chaired by Dr. Chatterjee Prof. Rohan Sarma and Raman Sidhu. The event featured Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma speaking on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism impact on Indian businesses, followed by a fireside chat between Dr. Chatterjee and Prof. Sarma on the Chatterjee Trikon model and strategic CSR.