Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to the 2025 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List, Susmita Bagchi, a co-founder of Mindtree from Odisha, has become the second most generous woman philanthropist in India with an astounding gift of ₹90 crore. She has gained national attention for her charitable endeavors, especially in the healthcare industry. Bagchi and her husband, Subroto Bagchi, founded the Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Centre and Research Institute, which has revolutionized the accessibility and affordability of cancer treatment. For many patients in India, their initiatives have greatly improved healthcare results and infrastructure.
The top 10 female philanthropists on the Hurun Research Institute’s 2025 list have donated a total of ₹464 crore to causes that include scientific research, women’s empowerment, education, and rural development. Through the alignment of their riches with lasting impact, these innovative visionaries are reshaping philanthropy in India. With her organization, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, concentrating on ecosystem development and institutional change, Rohini Nilekani topped the list with a donation of ₹154 crore. Third place goes to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the chairperson of Biocon, who through the Mazumdar-Shaw Philanthropy Foundation donated ₹85 crore to support social development, education, and scientific research.
Other well-known figures include Radha Vembu of Zoho Corporation (₹11 crore for women’s empowerment and rural advancement), Leena Gandhi Tewari of USV (₹25 crore for social development), and Anu Aga of the Thermax Foundation (₹48 crore for education). The research emphasizes how women leaders devote their money to uplifting underserved areas and enhancing public services, acting as more than just contributors but also drivers for social change. At the national level, Susmita Bagchi’s charitable endeavors serve as a potent illustration of Odisha’s emerging leadership in social impact.
