The ethos of philanthropy in India is age-old, spanning thousands of years, and the act of ‘giving’ is integral to this culture. As a nation defined by its diversity in language, food, culture, and religion – India has and continues to have a unified oneness when giving back to society. Each flavor of India’s diverse culture has a synonymous spirit for benevolence.

Ergo, it was not surprising when India became the first country in the world to legally mandate its corporates to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions. CSR is a part of corporate compliance, and it is inseparable from doing business in India. With effect from 1 April 2014, the Indian Companies Act, 2013 (the Act) in Section 135 mandates companies operating in India, including multinational companies to contribute to social causes. Corporate India has undisputedly upheld this charitable mandate. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has provided guidelines time and again on CSR matters. This guidance has come in the form of amendments communicated through circulars, orders, notifications and CSR Rules, the latest being the Corporate Social Responsibility Amendment Rules (CSR Amendment Rules), 2021.

It is crucial to mention that the COVID-19 pandemic had a crippling impact on the world, impacting economies, but most importantly, it has altered the way we live our lives. Corporates have grappled with this disease for more than a year now and it has left a lasting impact on the CSR landscape in India. The Government of India has regularly issued clarificatory guidance about CSR contributions since the pandemic, enabling corporates to lend support in these trying times.

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