Report

To understand the trend and make further recommendations for improvement of the Companies Act-which governs the CSR- Government of India had constituted a High Level Committee in 2018 under the Chairmanship of Injeti Srinivas, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The Committee examined CSR data as filed by the companies on March 31, 2019 and submitted its report on August 7, 2019. In its recommendation, the committee has suggested around 25 major changes in existing CSR rules.

The High-level Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, 2018 (HLC- 2018) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Injeti Srinivas, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), to review the existing framework and formulate a roadmap for future implementation.

This report consists of four chapters. Chapter I present a quick review of the history and changing landscape of responsible business conduct and sustainable development goals, and the role of businesses in this framework, followed by the principles embraced by the committee in its deliberations. In Chapter II, data has been analyzed based on filings made by companies. Chapter III provides comprehensive recommendations pertaining to not just the provisions and their implementation but also on the supportive CSR ecosystem needed to strengthen the sustainable development agenda. Chapter IV provides the way forward.

Following its recommendation, Ministry of Corporate Affairs made the amendments in the Companies Act, 2013. Click here to access the committee report.