Article
The Indian Express | Needed: A Super El Niño Abhiyan
Sadly, despite decades of anecdotal experience, we still do not have systematic data on how El Niño events actually play out across our natural ecosystems, and especially on communities and the livelihoods that are dependent on them Very rarely, it is okay to be alarmist. This is one of those times. Even usually cautious scientists […]
Interview
The Shaili Chopra Show | Rohini Nilekani on Money, Life Lessons & Gender Equality
Transript: [Shaili Chopra] We’re breaking the rules. The question is, what rules are we breaking? Rohini, welcome to the show. [Rohini Nilekani] Namaste, Shaili. Thanks for having me on the show. What rules does Rohini Nilekani break? Yeah, I don’t know how far back we want to go, but let’s stick with the present. I […]
Article
SSIR | Our Vanishing Developmental Commons
Written by Tanya Kak When I was a child, like many children, the street was where I learned how to live in the world. Playing was not just playing. We gathered every evening, first to decide what to play, then making our way through intense debates about how: the rules to follow, the boundary conditions to honor, the alliances […]
Keynote
The Telegraph | Rohini Nilekani urges philanthropists to embrace risk, patience for lasting social change
The third edition of ‘Setu: The Bridging Gap’ brings Kolkata’s grassroots changemakers into focus, with attendees pledging around Rs 13 crore towards social development Philanthropic capital is the “best risk capital”, said author and philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, urging donors to embrace risks and remain patient when supporting social causes. She stressed that meaningful and sustainable […]
Keynote
ToI | Rohini Nilekani Urges Indian Philanthropy to Embrace Risk, Patience
Kolkata: Indian philanthropy must move beyond merely increasing the amount of money being given and become more willing to take risks, exercise patience and think strategically to create lasting social change, philanthropist Rohini Nilekani said in Kolkata on Friday. Speaking as the chief guest at Setu 2026, the annual platform of SVP India Kolkata chapter, […]
Keynote
Special Address: Indian Wildlife Ecology Conference (IWEC)
Rohini Nilekani delivered a special address at the Indian Wildlife Ecology Conference (IWEC) 2026 held in Delhi on July 12, 2026. TRANSCRIPT: I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here in this community of wildlife ecologists, academics, practitioners, researchers, all nature lovers like me. That’s the community I can proudly belong to. […]
Others
Press Release: With Support from RNP, ALT EFF Launches India’s Largest Environmental Film Fund
Applications now open for filmmakers across India; three selected projects to receive grants. Supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) has officially announced the launch of the ALT EFF Film Fund, a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening climate and environmental storytelling in India. The fund, amounting to […]
Others
Press Release | Launching the Samvardhan Biodiversity & Conservation Fellowship
Empowering India’s Next Generation of Conservationists: Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Dasra Announce Applications for the Samvardhan Biodiversity & Conservation Fellowship Open to early-career conservation practitioners from across India, especially those from grassroots backgrounds A 12-month fellowship offering financial support, mentorship, and peer learning for the next generation of conservation leaders Register and apply at https://samvardhan.dasra.org/ May 25, […]
Article
ET | Time to Unlock Silver Abundance
Synopsis: India is still seen as a young country, but its demographic advantage is nearing an end, with the share of working-age population set to decline after 2030 and the elderly population expected to rise sharply. By 2047, India will have around 300 million senior citizens, and within decades could have the world’s largest ageing […]
Article
SSIR | Does Everything in the Social Sector Need to Scale?
by Tanya Kak For at least two decades, one question has structured much of how philanthropy and the social innovation ecosystem think about change: Can it scale? The question appears in grant applications, accelerator programs, and strategy documents. It makes sense: If a solution works for one community, surely the ethical imperative is to help many more? […]