PayU, a leading fintech platform, strengthened its commitment to India’s digitisation and financial inclusion goals in 2025 by advancing a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda centred on digital safety, sustainable livelihoods and education.
Designed to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved communities, PayU’s multi-pronged CSR initiatives have benefited over 50,000 rural citizens, supported more than 140 women entrepreneurs across key villages in Maharashtra and other states, and reached approximately 450 students and educators across India since 2024. The programmes were delivered in collaboration with trusted partners including the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and NeevJivan NGO.
“PayU’s commitment to social impact extends beyond financial inclusion,” said Richa Mukherjee, Senior Director – Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, PayU. “We are focused on building digitally safe and economically empowered communities from the ground up. Whether it is students learning cybersecurity fundamentals or women launching sustainable enterprises, these initiatives create long-term impact aligned with the Digital India mission.”
Advancing digital safety education
In partnership with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) under the Cyber for Youth programme, PayU strengthened cybersecurity awareness among students in rural Karnataka. The initiative delivered engaging, local-language learning through interactive quizzes, poster competitions and live demonstrations, covering key topics such as cyberbullying prevention, social media safety and digital payment fraud.
Programme effectiveness was measured through structured pre- and post-assessments, which showed knowledge improvement ranging from 62.5 per cent to 82.3 per cent across participating schools, underlining the programme’s impact in building digital resilience at the grassroots level.
Empowering women through sustainable livelihoods
Through its collaboration with NeevJivan NGO, PayU implemented the Model Village Programme to promote women-led entrepreneurship in Nashik, Dahanu and Jawhar regions of Maharashtra. The initiative introduced sustainable livelihood opportunities such as beekeeping, mushroom farming, poultry farming and vermi-composting, enabling women to build alternate and reliable income streams.
Participants received 30–45 days of entrepreneurship training, along with branding and market support for products such as ‘Madhu’ honey and ‘Mastshroom’ mushrooms. The programme successfully launched 14 sustainable livelihood projects, ensuring income-generating opportunities for every participating household.
Leadership led educational engagement
PayU also deepened its education-focused CSR efforts through a strategic partnership with Teach For India. Senior leaders from PayU engaged directly with over 450 students and educators through extended mentorship sessions, sharing practical insights on technology, entrepreneurship and career readiness. The initiative reinforced PayU’s belief in leadership-driven social change and hands-on engagement.
Building on a proven CSR legacy
These initiatives build on PayU’s strong CSR track record. In 2024, the company implemented the Village Adoption Programme under the RBI framework, delivering digital payments literacy to 5,000 beneficiaries across five villages in Uttar Pradesh under the theme Har Payment Digital. Additionally, the Digital Vans initiative, in partnership with MeitY’s CSC, reached over 50,238 citizens across remote areas of Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gurugram.
Together, these programmes reflect PayU’s sustained commitment to advancing digital inclusion, strengthening financial literacy and enabling equitable growth across India’s rural and underserved communities.
