Corporate Social Responsibility In India Research Articles

CSR and Sustainable Development in India: A Study of Environmental Initiatives by Indian Corporations

This research paper explores the intersection of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development in India, focusing on environmental initiatives undertaken by Indian corporations. Given the growing significance of CSR in addressing environmental challenges, the study employs a qualitative analysis of various CSR programs across industries, supplemented by quantitative data to evaluate their effectiveness. The findings reveal that while many companies have integrated CSR into their business strategies, significant challenges remain, including regulatory complexities and the need for greater stakeholder engagement. Key results indicate that approximately 70% of Indian corporations have begun adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, reflecting a shift towards responsible governance. The implications of these findings highlight the critical role of CSR in achieving sustainable development goals and fostering corporate accountability. Furthermore, the paper outlines future directions for CSR in India, emphasizing the importance of digital transformation, climate resilience, and collaborative partnerships. By identifying emerging trends and areas for improvement, this study aims to provide a roadmap for corporations looking to enhance their CSR initiatives and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development in India.

Corporate Social Responsibility In India: Exploring The Legal Mandate Under The Companies Act, 2013

Corporate Social Responsibility In India: Exploring The Legal Mandate Under The Companies Act, 2013

Navigating the Intersection of Input Tax Credit Restrictions and Corporate Social Responsibility in India

CSR is an important dimension of ethical and sustainable business practices, recent restrictions in the input tax credit under the GST regime pose important issues in the implementation of CSR. The article estimates the financial, operational, and reputational implications of the restrictions on ITC for the CSRs, calling on firms to adapt and innovate. They are strategies crucial for dealing with challenges concerning financial planning, prioritizing of only those initiatives with the best impact, collaboration, and advocacy can be done. Several strategic approaches can be applied by business to operate with the ITC provision on restrictions for CSR spending such as, enhanced financial planning, collaborative efforts, Innovating on CSR Approaches, Advocacy and Policy Engagement, Stakeholder Engagement and Communication, Business Strategy Integration with CSR, Diversification of Alternative Revenue Streams. Despite constraints in the regulatory environment, the commitment to CSR is very high, and it therefore brings about a positive influence on Indian society and sustainable development. The finding demonstrates that business implementing strategies for navigating ITC restrictions not only mitigate the financial strain due to ITC restrictions but also enhance operational efficacy to maintain competitive edge, improve financial health and strategic position.

Why Are Social Work Professionals Relevant in Corporate Social Responsibility? A Case of CSR and Non-CSR Projects in India

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is legally mandated in India for corporates to engage in community development. This requires specific skills to design and implement socially impactful development projects. This article discusses (a) the differences between CSR and non-CSR projects and (b) the relevance of social work professionals (SWPs) in CSR in India. Using a qualitative research method, 13 participants from non-governmental organisations and scholars from social science universities with experience in CSR and non-CSR projects were interviewed. The comparative analysis of views relating to CSR and non-CSR projects showed significant differences in the focus of the projects, financial support, processes of due diligence and monitoring and reporting. Non-CSR projects were found to have a better focus on processes of community development; one of the significant reasons being the engagement of professionally trained social workers and domain experts. The article recommends the application of developmental social work through the inclusion of SWPs in making CSR projects people-centric and impactful.

Legal Framework and Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Environmental Sustainability in India

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has undergone significant evolution from its philanthropic origins to a formalized concept influencing modern business practices. In India, CSR has deep cultural ties to philanthropy and charity, influenced heavily by globalization and regulatory measures such as the Companies Act of 2013. The integration of CSR into corporate strategies has emerged as a vital component for ensuring long-term sustainability and ethical governance. This paper examines the legal framework governing CSR in India, its impact on environmental sustainability, and the challenges and recommendations for enhancing CSR’s effectiveness within the legal realm. The growing importance of CSR reflects a broader global trend where businesses are increasingly held accountable for their social and environmental footprints. This shift is not merely a regulatory requirement but a strategic imperativethat aligns corporate success with societal well-being1 . The objectives of this research paper are to explore the evolution and current state of CSR in India, analyze the legal provisions that shape CSR activities, assess the impact of these activities on environmental sustainability, and identify the challenges and propose recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of CSR initiatives. By providing a comprehensive overview, this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on corporate responsibility and sustainable development2 . Globally, CSR practices have evolved significantly, with businesses across the world increasingly recognizing their role in addressing societal challenges. In developed economies, CSR is often driven by a combination of regulatory frameworks, stakeholder expectations, and the pursuit of sustainable business models. In contrast, emerging economies like India have witnessed a different trajectory, where traditional philanthropic practices are gradually being replaced by more structured and strategic CSR initiatives.

Decoding Corporate Social Responsibility Practises : India’s Unique Framework

Objectives: The Study aims to analyze the evolution and regulatory mandates of CSR in India, explore stake holder engagement dynamics, highlight leading Organisations driving sustainability and address challenges like transparency and accountability within the CSR landscape. Methods: The study employed a descriptive and analytical method, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. Result: The study reveals India's diverse CSR landscape shaped by regulatory mandates, cultural values, and stakeholder expectations, showcasing a shift towards strategic initiatives addressing social and environmental challenges. While challenges like transparency and impact measurement persist, opportunities for improvement exist, emphasizing the need for integrating CSR into business strategies and fostering stakeholder engagement. Successful CSR practices underscore businesses' potential to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development while bolstering their reputation and competitiveness. Conclusion: India's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) landscape is characterized by a complex interplay of regulatory mandates, cultural values, and stakeholder engagement, all aimed at fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development. Despite notable progress driven by legislative requirements like the Companies Act 2013, challenges such as effective implementation and transparency persist. However, through enhanced accountability, regulatory reforms, and a focus on aligning CSR strategies with local needs and global sustainability goals, India can further strengthen its CSR framework. By leveraging insights from the study, policymakers, businesses, and civil society organizations can collaboratively address these challenges and unlock the full potential of CSR to drive positive societal impact and contribute to a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.

An analysis of Indian banks' CSR initiatives

A corporation or organization can simply increase their goodwill in the marketplace by engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Upholding moral principles and benefiting society are the overarching goals of corporate social responsibility. CSR takes into account both internal and external elements in addition to the value for their customers. Businesses gain by contributing significantly to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a number of ways, including enhanced funding availability, new opportunities, employee retention, stakeholder satisfaction, and brand image. As globalization accelerates, banks are becoming increasingly engaged in corporate social responsibility initiatives to broaden their clientele. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of the Indian banking sector focuses on projects like health and medical care, rural area development, and poverty eradication. It also aims to address financial inclusion, provide financial services to support national investment, and promote the socio-economic development of the country. The Bank's corporate social responsibility endeavours are predominantly centred around environmental sustainability, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and educational initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan, among numerous other projects. This study's goal is to evaluate the CSR programs that the banking sector has implemented. The bank's CSR report is the source of the data.

Indian Experience of CSR and Corporate Governance in the Post-liberalised Era

Corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have gained considerable space in business management literature in recent times. Both these concepts share many commonalities and overlap in the day-to-day operational and strategic life of business organisations. The purported aim of both CG and CSR is to ensure that corporations behave ethically and responsibly and are governed strictly according to the law while interacting with and empowering all the stakeholders. Therefore, it is important to explore the potential commonalities and hurdles in achieving synergy between CG and CSR in the Indian context. Indian CG serves the monopoly corporations by tweaking the basic principle of a free market economy. It leaves workers, customers, the environment, society and other important stakeholders in the vagaries of predatory market forces. Similarly, CSR in India, like elsewhere, is used to hide the systematic vices of the corporate sector. The unholy nexus of corporates, politicians and bureaucrats is killing the essence of CG and CSR synergy. Therefore, a strong, effective, non-partisan, transparent and independent policy-making, institutional, regulatory, accounting and audit mechanism must be implemented to insulate all stakeholders from the tyranny of monopoly corporations. This article uses an argumentative analytical method to conceptualise and theorise the different aspects of CG and CSR in the Indian context.

Corporate Social Responsibility in India: A Review of Corporate Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Corporate Social Responsibility in India: A Review of Corporate Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Corporate Social Responsibility in India: An Analysis Based on the Constitution and Theory

Corporate Social Responsibility in India: An Analysis Based on the Constitution and Theory

Socio-Historical Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in India with Case Studies

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility, as we know it, is a product of a nascent legislation which makes it mandatory, under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, for companies turning a profit over a certain threshold to publish and maintain a CSR report constituted by a Board. This obligation is not merely a statutory one but rather a sociological one, too. While the country develops and upgrades to unfathomable limits, there remains a sizeable population of people who need help and assistance to have their basic constitutional right to a dignified life.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained increased significance in recent years. The growing focus on CSR has changed the attitude of businesses all over the world, and India is not an exception. The concept of CSR is not new to India; historically speaking, social responsibility of companies is a well-established phenomenon in India, and the country has one of the world's richest traditions of CSR. In its oldest forms, CSR in India included the concept of corporate philanthropy and the Gandhian Trusteeship model. But the liberalization of the Indian economy in the 1990s led to a fundamental shift from the philanthropy-based model to a multi stakeholder approach whereby companies are deemed responsible for all stakeholders, including financial stakeholders, employees and the community. The liberalization of the economy also led to the increased presence of large global corporations such as Microsoft, IBM, and others on Indian soil, which thereby exposed India to a highly developed regime of CSR initiatives. Additionally, a strong desire to compete and succeed in the global economy drove Indian business enterprises to integrate CSR into a coherent and sustainable business strategy. These enterprises, both public and private, have realized that their long-term success depends on the satisfaction of their stakeholders, and that ignoring them could jeopardize the company's future prospects in the community. This article discusses the concept of CSR as understood by Indian businesses in the past, and the changing interpretations of the concept in the age of globalization and expanding markets. The article further discusses the efforts toward community and social development made by both state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and private-sector businesses. After a detailed analysis, the article concludes that the future of CSR in India is brought, and that its importance will continue to grow even further given the increasing importance accorded to CSR world-wide, and India's own realization that it needs CSR to achieve long-term sustainability in the world economy.

The Changing Landscape of Corporate Social Responsibility in India Pre & Post Covid- 19

All beings in the world are directly or indirectly related to society, and the most significant entity is a human being who bears the greatest duty to the society of which he or she is a member. Like human beings, companies are also seen as major contributors among the important segments of business houses since, like other entities, they utilize resources from society for manufacturing while also relying on society for revenue. When the COVID-19 crisis was encountered by society, the pandemic conditions led to an increase in people’s expectations of corporate entities to provide assistance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be exceptionally critical for the entire world, it has affected major sections of India, and problems have been observed in every aspect, including the physical, mental, economic, social, and so on. In such difficult situations, people started placing high expectations on many corporate entities to provide assistance in any manner they could. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in India has undergone a remarkable transition as a result of the unprecedented problems posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the critical role of companies in responding to social needs and special situations. Companies have rapidly shifted their CSR efforts to healthcare, hygiene, and social protection, reflecting a new urgency in contributing to the country's resilience. The objective of this study is to examine various definitions and descriptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), as well as to describe in detail the evolution of CSR in India, and analyse the shifting of CSR paradigms in India during the pandemic, offering insights into how businesses have adapted their strategies and priorities before and after the pandemic and the analysis of CSR trends during COVID-19 and Immediate challenges posed by the pandemic on CSR activities.

A Review of Corporate Social Responsibility in India

A Review of Corporate Social Responsibility in India

Human Rights Perspective Of Corporate Social Responsibility In India

We are in the era of globalization and industrialization. Today development of the nation is measured on the basis of industrialization. As the industrial sector contributes 25.92% in our total GDP of the nation which directly influence our economic aspect of the nation. As economic growth and increased national and international business activity cannot be made at the expense of social and hu-man development, corporate respect for human rights becomes of pivotal importance, especially in the India’s context. So, to look after the human rights which are impacted by these corporate different laws have been enacted to control the corporates one of them is Company Act, 2013 which make CSR as le-gal responsibility.

A Critical Study On Environmental Sustainability Under Corporate Social Responsibility In India

A Critical Study On Environmental Sustainability Under Corporate Social Responsibility In India

Corporate Social Responsibility in India: An Examination in the Context of Corporate Governance

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a significant aspect of corporate behavior globally, driven by ethical concerns, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory mandates. In India, the integration of CSR into corporate governance practices has garnered increasing attention in recent years. This abstract provides an overview of the examination of CSR in India within the framework of corporate governance. This study aims to explore the intricate relationship between CSR and corporate governance in the Indian context. It delves into the evolving landscape of CSR in India, particularly since the enactment of the Companies Act, 2013, which made it mandatory for certain qualifying companies to allocate a portion of their profits towards CSR activities. The analysis encompasses a review of legislative developments, the evolution of CSR reporting, and the role of stakeholders in shaping CSR strategies.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN INDIA-CURRENT SCENARIO AND CHALLENGES

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was made mandatory in India by the Companies Act of 2013, thus the evaluation of CSR activities over the years has become inevitable. Any unit or business derives a lot from the society so it is the responsibility of the business or unit to contribute some portion of its annual profits. The belief that it should be allocated for the society is getting stronger today. As a result, this provision was made mandatory under Section-135 of the Companies Act, 2013. The main objective of this research paper was to know the meaning of CSR and to get information about the existing CSR legal framework. Also, to know the present rank of Indian companies, states in CSR activities and to study what problems in implementation of CSR in India have been observed in recent years. The entire data for this research has been obtained from secondary data. This information is presented in a simple table and classification. From the findings of the study, it is known that most of the Indian companies are still not registered on the portal of CSR, and the number of companies has been decreasing in recent years which is a matter of concern for India. Identified development areas of corporate social responsibility and disparity in spending by states were also observed and other challenges are studied in this paper. Government and key stakeholders have to play an active role to overcome this problem. KEY WORDS: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Company, Sustainable Development, Stakeholders

LGBTQ-Supporting Diversity CSR in India: Impact of CSR Levels and Role of Value-Based Attributions and Social Acceptance on CSR Outcomes

ABSTRACT In 2018, India scrapped Section 377 of the Penal Code to decriminalize homosexuality in the state. This study examines the impact of different levels of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)-supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on individuals’ behavioral intentions to support a company and its CSR initiatives by conducting an online experiment with Indian citizens. It also examines the role of value-driven motivations and social acceptance. The findings show a direct impact and an interactive effect of social acceptance of the LGBTQ community on individuals’ CSR associations. Moreover, CSR-induced value-driven motives can strongly influence corporate ability (CA) associations. The dual-path model proposed in this study will serve as a foundation for future research in the strategic communication of CSR programs for sensitive topics such as LGBTQ issues due to polarized public opinion in developing countries. The practical and theoretical implications of this study are also discussed.

Stakeholders' perception of mandatory CSR in the Indian hotel industry: scale development and validation

PurposeThis study aims to develop and validate a scale to measure stakeholders' perception of mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the hotel industry in India.Design/methodology/approachCSR items were generated based on a qualitative approach. The underlying factorial structure of the scale is determined using exploratory factor analysis. The measurement model is verified through confirmatory factor analysis with validity checks. Additionally, the nomological and predictive validity of the proposed scale is confirmed through correlation and regression analysis.FindingsThis study proposed a three-dimensional 17-item scale comprising the environment, social and cultural domains to measure stakeholders' perception of mandatory CSR in the Indian hotel industry.Research limitations/implicationsThis study adds to the literature by providing a comprehensive approach incorporating CSR activities specified by law on CSR measurement. Validated CSR scales are recommended for future studies to measure CSR in India. This study may also serve as a blueprint for other countries to develop context-specific CSR measurement approaches.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first scale development study on mandatory CSR in India. The inclusion of CSR activities prescribed by law on the standardized CSR scale development is a novel outlook.