The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) hosted its Annual Corporate Governance
Session and the 4th Edition of the CSR Conclave & Social Leadership Awards 2025 on 19 December
2025 at Taj City Centre, Kolkata. The day unfolded as a meaningful coming together of leaders from
industry, government, civil society, academia, and young change-makers—each contributing to conversations around the evolving role of corporate governance and CSR in India.
The conclave opened with a Welcome Address by Mr. Jitendra Kumar, Chairperson, BCC&I National CSR & Corporate Governance Committee, who set the tone by underlining the need for businesses to lead with responsibility and purpose. This was followed by special addresses from Dr. Meera Mitra, Member, Governing Body, Centre for Responsible Business, and Mr. Ambarish Dasgupta, Senior Partner and Founder, Intueri Consulting LLP, who spoke on the idea of CSR 2.0—a shift towards deeper impact, accountability, and long-term value creation.
The programme was formally inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Shri S. Suresh Kumar, IAS, Chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation. He was joined by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, former Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and BCC&I Jury Lead, and Mr. Jaidip Mukerjea, former Indian tennis player, as Guests of Honour, lending the occasion both institutional depth and inspiration.
The first panel discussion, “ESG in the Boardroom: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage,” set the stage for the day’s deliberations. Mr. Saunak Saha (Ernst & Young), Mr. Sujay Biswas (Exide Industries Ltd.), Prof. Rohan Sarma, and Mr. Saket Sah (RPSG Group) shared insights on how ESG is steadily becoming central to boardroom strategy rather than a mere compliance requirement. Moderated by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, the session offered a clear message—strong governance and sustainability thinking are now critical to business resilience and growth.
This was followed by a focused and timely session on “Managing Data Risk: DPDP Compliance for Corporates,” powered by AQUILAW as the Legal and Technical Partner. Moderated by Mr. Rajarshi Dasgupta, Executive Director, AQUILAW, the discussion brought together Mr. G. R. Srikanth (RPSG Group), Mr. Debarshi Mukherjee (Coursera), and Mr. Abhiroop Mukherjee (ITC Limited). The panel explored practical challenges around data protection, compliance readiness, and responsible data governance in an increasingly digital business environment.
Post lunch, the conclave turned its focus to partnerships with “Collaborating for Change: Corporate–NGO Synergy for Viksit Bharat.” Moderated by Mr. Amitabh Shah, Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer, Yuva Unstoppable, the session featured Ms. Sujata Sen (Future Hope), Mr. Nishant Sinha (Exide Industries Limited), Mr. Atul Singh (Emami Ltd.), Mr. Satyajit Gupta (EXL Services), and student representative Ms. Avni Khodiar from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Kolkata. The discussion highlighted how collaboration between corporates, NGOs, and communities can create scalable and sustainable social impact—especially when diverse voices are brought to the table.
The final session of the day, “Impact Redefined: CSR in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” looked ahead to the future. Mr. Kumar Anurag Pratap (Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd.), Ms. Puja Marwaha (Child Rights and You – CRY), Mr. Aninda Das (Infinity Infotech Parks Limited), and student representative Ms. Aiushi Thakur from BDM International, Kolkata, discussed how technology and AI are transforming the way CSR initiatives are designed, implemented, and measured. Moderated by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, the session struck a thoughtful balance between innovation and responsibility.
The conclave concluded on a celebratory note with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Ravindra Chamaria, Chairman & Managing Director, Infinity Group, recognising his enduring contribution to industry and society. Several leading corporates—including Bosch Limited,
Capgemini Technology Services India Limited, Damodar Valley Corporation, Jindal Steel Ltd., TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited, Century Plyboards (India) Limited, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd.—were honoured across categories.
Leading NGOs such as Dilasa Janvikas Pratishthan, Vihaan, SwitchON Foundation, Parivaar Education Foundation, Transform Schools, Indian Cancer Society, Child in Need Institute (CINI), and Smile Foundation were also recognised for their impactful work on the ground. Supported by partners including Exide Industries Limited, Infinity Infotech Parks Limited, 91.9 Friends FM, Assensive Educare Ltd., Positive Barta, Linde India Limited, AQUILAW, Selvel, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, Damodar Valley Corporation, The Financial Express, and Intueri Consulting LLP, the conclave closed with a renewed sense of purpose.
Through this successful and thoughtfully curated programme, BCC&I reaffirmed its commitment to advancing ethical governance, collaborative action, and future-ready CSR, creating a platform that not only sparks dialogue but also inspires meaningful action—today and in the years to come.
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