IICA, WNS Launch Ybrant CSR & ESG Program

In a corner collaboration aimed at integrating sustainability and responsible business practices into mainstream operation education, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), in cooperation with WNS Global Services, launched the IICA–WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Program on November 11, 2025. The event, held at the IICA lot, was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO of IICA, and Mr. Gopal Agarwal, Head of CSR, WNS Global Services. The action marks a significant step toward nurturing a generation of socially conscious leaders who can align commercial success with sustainable development and social responsibility. 

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh emphasized that the Ybrant Program represents a visionary effort to bring Commercial Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and sustainability into the very fabric of operation education. He said that this action isn’t simply an academic exercise but a strategic movement toward reshaping how unborn leaders perceive the relationship between business and society. According to him, the program seeks to cultivate leaders who view business not just as a vehicle for profit but as an important instrument for sustainable and inclusive growth. 

Pressing the evolving CSR geography in India, Shri Singh participated in the discussion, stating that the nation’s CSR expenditure has witnessed remarkable growth—from ₹ 10,065.93 crores in the fiscal time 2014–15to ₹ 34,908.75 crores in FY 2023–24. Over the past decade, Indian companies have spent more than ₹ 2.2 lakh crores on CSR conditioning, reflecting a rapidly growing ecosystem that decreasingly values social impact alongside profitability. He stressed that this growth calls for a new skeleton of professionals equipped to balance profit-making with ethical, sustainable, and socially salutary practices. These professionals, he noted, must retain an in-depth understanding of how business strategy can meet with sustainability and governance to produce long-term value for society. 

In his address, Mr. Gopal Agarwal underlined the significance of the Ybrant Program as a cooperative platform that unites the government, commercial sector, and academia. He stressed that the action embodies the principle of “catch them youthful,” focusing on breeding the values of sustainable development in scholars while they’re still in the literacy phase. The ideal is to ensure that unborn business leaders, including CEOs and top directors, grow with an essential understanding of sustainable and responsible leadership. 

Agarwal explained that the program has been designed as an amalgamated literacy model, seamlessly combining academic rigor with real-world assiduity and perceptivity. It provides learners with practical exposure through case study-grounded literacy, fieldwork, and relations with assiduity experts. Actors will also admit instruments through IICA’s digital credential system, which is empirical via QR law, DigiLocker, and shareable on LinkedIn, increasing translucency, authenticity, and digital recognition. He emphasized that this model not only strengthens the professional value of the instrument but also encourages scholars to borrow sustainability as a lifelong commitment rather than a short-term academic pursuit. 

Drinking the actors, Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Head of the Centre for Excellence in CSR & Corporate Citizenship at IICA, developed on the structure and vision of the Ybrant Program. He informed us that the program has a duration of six months and integrates 22.5 hours of academic sessions with 18 hours of fieldwork, furnishing a balanced combination of theoretical understanding and practical operation. Comprising 15 comprehensive modules, the class begins with the fundamentals of CSR and sustainability and precipitously covers advanced motifs similar to global CSR trends, Indian CSR legislation, impact assessment, ESG reporting, commercial governance, and leadership in sustainability. 

Kumar added that the learners will engage in daily live sessions led by IICA faculty members and assiduity professionals, creating a dynamic literacy experience that bridges classroom generalities with real-world operations. The entire program is hosted on IICA’s online Learning Management System (LMS), enabling availability for actors across India and abroad. This ensures that aspiring professionals, regardless of position, can profit from the program’s rich academic and existential content. 

The Ybrant Program is envisaged as more than an educational action; it is a catalyst for change in how businesses operate and how leaders suppose. With the global emphasis on sustainable business models and ESG fabrics, the program aims to produce professionals who can navigate complex socio-profitable challenges while driving positive change. It encourages scholars to integrate ethical decision-making into business strategy, thereby fostering a culture of responsibility, invention, and long-term societal impact. 

The launch event witnessed enthusiastic participation from more than 250 scholars representing five prominent 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. Their active involvement reflected the growing interest among youthful minds in learning how commercial conduct can contribute to nation-building and sustainable growth. 

The event concluded on an auspicious note with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Ankita Sharma, Senior Research Associate, IICA. She expressed gratefulness to all actors, speakers, and mate institutions for their commitment to the vision of the Ybrant Program. The proceedings were moderated by Ms. Sana Farid, Research Associate, IICA, who ensured a smooth inflow of conversations and perceptive exchanges throughout the session. 

The successful launch of the IICA–WNS Ybrant CSR, ESG & Sustainability Program symbolizes a forward-looking approach to education and commercial leadership in India. It demonstrates how multi-stakeholder hookups between academic institutions, pots, and government realities can play a pivotal part in shaping a sustainable future. As India continues to advance its CSR and ESG ecosystem, enterprises like the Ybrant Program will be necessary in preparing a generation of leaders who can effectively balance profitability with responsibility—realizing that businesses serve not only shareholders but also society and the earth. 

With this action, IICA and WNS Global Services have set a standard for cooperative educational invention that aligns with India’s broader sustainability pretensions. The Ybrant Program stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to responsible growth, where the coming generation of leaders will drive businesses that aren’t only successful but also socially conscious and environmentally flexible.