The Bajaj Group today committed Rs. 5,000 crores to social impact initiatives over 5 years, with a sharp focus on skill development, under ‘Bajaj Beyond’—the Group’s new identity for all its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and charitable programs. This will benefit over 2 crore of tomorrow's youth and enable them to take advantage of the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities offered by India’s growing economy.
Social responsibility is deeply entwined in the Bajaj Family’s businesses and its philanthropic endeavours through generations. In the last 10 years alone, the Bajaj Group has contributed close to Rs. 4,000 crore towards CSR initiatives largely focused on skilling and education, health, livelihood, water conservation, and several other areas of development.
The Bajaj Group's humanitarian efforts are channeled through several institutions. The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha, and the Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital, among others, have worked unceasingly to uplift and empower communities. The Group stays firmly committed to co-creating a thriving and inclusive future for all Indians.
The Bajaj Group’s key CSR initiatives:
• The Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) program, launched in 2023, aims to enhance the skills of engineering and diploma graduates in the latest technologies relevant to Industry 4.0. The program has successfully inaugurated its flagship centre in Pune, enrolling 120 students. It is now scaling up with a plan to establish 15 centres across India.
• Bajaj Finserv Ltd’s Certificate Program in Banking, Finance and Insurance (CPBFI), works to bridge the skilling gap, by linking industry with academia, enabling young first-generation students from tier 2 & 3 towns to take advantage of employment opportunities in the financial services sector.
With a presence in 140 towns, the CPBFI program has trained and benefited over 53,000 fresh graduates across India. Bajaj Finserv has forged a partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and AICTE, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education.
• The Bajaj Water Conservation Project, which empowers communities to manage water resources, was launched in 2015, across 161 villages in the Aurangabad district. Over Rs. 140 crore was dedicated to communities for preventive healthcare, water, and sanitation in the water-scarce regions of Vidharbha.
• Hamaara Sapna, a Jamnalal Bajaj Trust initiative launched in 2012, endeavours to transform the lives of marginalised women residing in Mumbai's slums through education and entrepreneurship. Regular development activities encompass communication, computer skills, legal and social knowledge, finance management, personality enhancement, health, hygiene, and yoga.
Expressing his views on the initiatives, Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Electricals Ltd., “Our initiatives have demonstrated the transformative impact of empowering India's youth. Today, we unveil Bajaj Beyond, continuing our mission to equip future generations with the tools they need for success.”
Sharing his thoughts about the initiative, Niraj Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said: “As stewards of the Bajaj legacy, we recognize our responsibility of giving back to society. Our new initiative, Bajaj Beyond, truly goes beyond mere training programs. What we have launched is a holistic approach that trains and prepares first-generation graduates from smaller towns and cities to realize their full potential.
By addressing all aspects of employability—attitude, skills, and knowledge—Bajaj Beyond equips them to build successful careers. We are not just closing the skill gap; we are creating a versatile pool of skilled resources that will drive India’s growth story in a comprehensive manner and strengthen the economy to compete in the global arena.”
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said: "Launching the Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) last year has been a valuable learning experience for us. It gave us a very clear picture of the critical gap between theoretical education and practical skills needed in the manufacturing industry.
The insights gained through BEST acted as a cornerstone in laying down the groundwork. With Bajaj Beyond, we will expand our skilling efforts across the group. Together, we will design future-proof curriculums, provide real-world, hands-on experiences, and equip our youth with the adaptability and innovation required to thrive in the ever-evolving mobility landscape."
Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman & Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Ltd, said, “Inspired by our founder, Jamnalal Bajaj, the Bajaj Group has a legacy of working for the ‘common good’ of society and of serving the nation. Skilling has been at the heart of our social impact initiatives and we have seen the positive multiplier effect it has on the well-being of youth and their families.
Our Certificate Programme in Banking, Finance and Insurance (CPBFI) prepares youth for employment in the fast expanding financial services sector which is currently seeing a shortage of talent. With Bajaj Beyond, we commit to strengthening India’s skilling ecosystem, especially in the hinterland, enabling greater access to economic prosperity.”
About Bajaj Group
The “Bajaj Group,” founded 130 years ago, traces its roots to Jamnalal Bajaj, the founder and patriarch of the Bajaj Family. The Bajaj Group of companies has grown over the last 75 years and is the fifth-largest business group in terms of market capitalization, with a combined market cap exceeding 10 lakh crore.Besides being a successful businessman, Jamnalal Bajaj was a freedom fighter, philanthropist, and close confidant of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi considered Jamnalal Bajaj his fifth child because even though he was a very wealthy man, Jamnalal Bajaj had ethics and principles by which he lived. Jamnalal Bajaj played a major role in the quest for India’s independence and spearheaded various movements in support of Khadi, rural development, upliftment of backward classes, and more.
He took into his own the Gandhian way of life and brought those principles into managing his business. After Jamnalalji, his philosophy of life and business were successfully taken forward by his sons, Kamalnayanji and Ramkrishnaji. Built on core Gandhian values, the Bajaj Group has a legacy one can truly be proud of.
Today, the Bajaj Group is one of India's most respected and renowned business houses. The Group has 40 companies with more than 1,00,000 employees. Prominent group companies include Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Electricals, Bajaj Finance, Mukand, Bajaj Allianz, Bajaj Finserv, and Hercules Hoists, to name a few. Though the Group ranks highly in turnover, profits, and range of products and services, Bajaj Group believes that the true measure of growth, success, and progress lies beyond balance sheets and economic indices.
For several decades, The Bajaj Group, with its strong network of 200+ NGO partners and social investments, has addressed the needs of communities, taking sustainable initiatives in the areas of health, science, and technology for rural development, women and child welfare, education, environment conservation, restoration of national heritage, setting up public libraries, promotion of handicrafts, and overall community development. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of the Bajaj Group are guided by the vision of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj, who laid the foundation for ethical, value-based, and transparent functioning.