Beyond HCL: How Shiv Nadar & His Billion-Dollar Initiatives Are Shaping the Future of Education in India

• 24 April 2025
• Akriti Singh

While Shiv Nadar is widely celebrated as the founder of HCL Technologies, one of India's leading IT companies, his most impactful work may well lie beyond the world of business. Through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, he has embarked on a transformative journey to redefine education in India—investing billions in initiatives that are shaping future generations.

From Boardrooms to Classrooms

After establishing HCL as a global technology powerhouse, Shiv Nadar turned his attention to a cause close to his heart: education as a tool for nation-building. He believed that the true engine of progress lies in nurturing minds, not just markets. With this philosophy, he founded the Shiv Nadar Foundation in 1994, marking the start of one of India’s most ambitious philanthropic journeys.

Building Institutions of Excellence

The Foundation's flagship institutions include:

• Shiv Nadar University (SNU) in Greater Noida, a multidisciplinary, research-focused university that aims to rival global academic standards while remaining deeply rooted in Indian challenges.

• VidyaGyan, a leadership academy for underprivileged rural students, handpicks top-performing students from across Uttar Pradesh and gives them a fully funded world-class education, preparing them to become future leaders.

• Shiv Nadar Schools in major Indian cities, which emphasize experiential learning, innovation, and holistic development, going beyond rote learning to foster curiosity and creativity.

A Vision Rooted in Equity

Nadar's educational mission isn’t just about creating elite institutions—it’s about democratizing access to quality education. From rural leadership programs to scholarships and research grants, the foundation’s outreach touches thousands of lives each year, with a focus on those who would otherwise be left behind.

The numbers speak for themselves: over Rs 12,000 crore (and counting) has been invested in educational initiatives. But the true measure of success? The stories of transformation emerging from every student empowered by these programs.

Shaping India's Knowledge Economy

Nadar understands that India’s future lies in becoming a global hub of knowledge, innovation, and leadership. His initiatives focus not just on academic excellence, but on creating environments where students can develop into problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and socially conscious citizens.

He’s also one of the few Indian philanthropists to approach education with a long-term systems-change mindset, ensuring that every institution is sustainable, scalable, and socially impactful.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Shiv Nadar’s journey is a powerful reminder that the most lasting legacies are often not what we build for ourselves, but what we build for others. From technology to teaching, he is proving that leadership is not just about profit, but about purpose. And as thousands of students walk through the doors of his institutions every year, they carry forward a vision of India that is brighter, smarter, and more inclusive.

In a country with immense talent but uneven access to opportunity, Nadar’s billion-dollar bet on education may just be India’s most important investment in its own future.