Paytm—short for “Pay Through Mobile”—is a tech-powered leader in India’s digital payments and financial services ecosystem, operating under its parent company One97 Communications Ltd. Founded in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma in Noida, Paytm has grown from a mobile recharge startup into a multi-service platform offering payments, loans, insurance, wealth management, and commerce solutions through a suite of apps and offline merchant devices MEDIANAMA.
Paytm commands a sizable user base in India, with approximately 72 million Monthly Transacting Users (MTUs) as of Q4 FY 2025, and expanding merchant acceptance via QR, Soundbox devices, and POS installations, now serving over 1.3 crore merchant subscriptions with 8 lakh merchant loan clients MEDIANAMA+3Paytm+3Paytm+3. In Q1 FY 2026, Paytm processed over ₹5 lakh crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) with 25–27% year-on-year growth, even as it continues navigating regulatory changes impacting its payments bank operations MEDIANAMA+5Paytm+5Paytm+5.
🌱 CSR & Social Impact: Paytm Foundation
Paytm channels its CSR work through the Paytm Foundation, which focuses on digital education, financial literacy, clean-air & environmental awareness, women empowerment, and disaster relief initiatives aligned with UN SDGs Paytm Foundation+3Paytm Investor Relations+3Paytm+3.
Key initiatives include:
Digital Literacy & Financial Inclusion Workshops, particularly for women, reaching 1,000+ women across India with training led by volunteer employees (“Paytmers”) in budgeting, savings, and financial planning Paytm Foundation+6Paytm+6The CSR Universe+6.
Laptop Donations under the Shikshit Bharat initiative, supporting digital education access in states like Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh Paytm.
Air Quality Action Forum (Phase II) with UNEP, fostering clean-air awareness and tech-enabled interventions in India’s urban areas Wikipedia+3The CSR Universe+3Paytm+3.
The foundation’s CSR policy documents highlight company-wide commitment to sustainability, social equity, and grassroots empowerment Paytm Bank.
🎯 Strategic Relevance to Gurugram & Civic Campaigns
Paytm's extensive merchant network includes thousands of small businesses and kiranas across Gurugram, positioning it as a strong platform for digital payments education and local financial inclusion campaigns.
Through UPI payments and FASTag integrations, Paytm can support mobility and sustainability messaging, including campaign opportunities in public transport zones and community hubs WikipediaWikipedia.
Its CSR focus on digital literacy and air-quality awareness aligns naturally with themes in the Give Back to Gurugram ecosystem, particularly campaigns on clean air and climate action.
🏆 Why Paytm Matters as a Civic Partner
Digital Trust & Reach: As a widely recognized fintech brand with both consumer and merchant penetration, Paytm can amplify civic messaging across urban and peri-urban audiences.
Women & Financial Empowerment: Its focus on financial literacy for women supports empowerment, economic inclusion, and campaign themes around city resilience.
Environmental & Healthcare Advocacy: Current participation in clean-air initiatives via UNEP positions Paytm as a socially relevant stakeholder on sustainability and policy-driven civic action.
Platform Infrastructure: With digital channels, SMS/APP messaging, and offline payment devices, Paytm can help deliver civic tools and messaging at scale.