Abstract

This case is about recent trends in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Indian business environment. CSR became more visible in India in the 1990s and Indian Businesses adopted charity-based, philanthropic, and social initiative-based CSR approaches. To augment CSR practices by corporate companies, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance in India initiated steps to make CSR spend mandatory through changes in the draft of Companies Bill 2009. The case discusses the controversies sparked by the move with some sections voicing protests and industry groups, bureaucrats, legal groups, legislators, and professionals, indulging in heated arguments. The case concludes by discussing how CSR becomes a key differentiator for the Indian industry to achieve a sustainable future.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• CSR growth aspects in India and the world.
• How CSR spending and sustenance reporting are done in different countries.
• The constraints in making CSR mandatory in India.

Keywords

CSR, CR, Corporate Governance, Business Ethics, Business Environment, Sustainable Development, Sustenance Reporting, Business Responsibility, NGO