By PTI

NEW DELHI: India is becoming more generous with larger number of people stepping up to support others in tough times, according to a new study that shows the country climbing up the World Giving Index of global generosity.

According to the Index that is compiled by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), India has re-entered the list of top 100 most generous countries, by occupying the 91st rank as opposed to the earlier 106th.

"India has a fabulous tradition and culture of giving and it is great news that India is becoming more generous over time. People generously stepped up to help after the devastating Tamil Nadu floods and the Nepal earthquake.

"It's humbling that people instinctively try to help when they see their fellow citizens suffering adversity. We need to give something back to those who need it and build on the culture of giving of which we should be so proud," says Meenakshi Batra, Chief Executive of CAF India.

Even though, overall India has climbed up the global CAF WGI to rank just above Pakistan and Bangladesh, it still scores significantly lower than some of its neighbours like Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.

In an impressive finding, the number of Indians helping a stranger, giving money and volunteering their time is more than any other country.

Overall, 401 million people had helped a stranger last year, up from 335m in 2014. More than 200 million had given money, up from 184m in 2014 and 200m had volunteered during the previous month, up from 157m in 2014," the study states.

The index recorded the number of people who helped a stranger in the past month, volunteered their time or gave money to a good cause, to reveal the results.

This year 148,000 people in 140 countries were surveyed as part of the Gallup World Poll, an ongoing research project carried out in more than 140 countries in 2015.

Overall, Myanmar was the most generous country on Earth for the third year running. The United States was second, making it the most generous nation in the western world, followed by Australia.

Other findings include Africa being the continent with the highest increase in generosity in the past year.

Also, high levels of giving in Iraq and Libya despite bloody conflicts, and Nepal, indicate disasters and adversity continue to inspire acts of generosity.

"The generosity of people, even in countries suffering from disaster and turmoil, is truly humbling. In every county, people have this in-built desire to give and help others.

"Governments should encourage that spirit of generosity and create the environment in which a strong civil society can flourish allowing people to reach out to those less fortunate than themselves," says John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation.