Question : Amendments in CSR Norms

(a) whether the Government has amended/proposes to amend the Company’s Act to include/give more representation to Women Directors on Corporate Boards of Public and Private Sector Companies, if so, the details thereof;
(b) if not, the reasons therefor and the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase the representation of women executives in Public and Private sectors;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government including amendments in the existing laws to make Corporate Governance in the country simpler, more accountable, transparent and democratic;
(d) whether the Government has received any representations from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to revise the 2% Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) norm and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of total amount spent by the companies under CSR dedicated to increase employment opportunities and income of the local community and people affected from mining project and environment protection and sustainable development; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and action taken by the Government thereon?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)
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(a) to (c): The second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 149 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with rule 3 of Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 provides that every listed company and every other public company having paid up share capital of Rs. 100 crore or more or having turnover
-2-

ofRs. 300 crore or more shall appoint at least one woman director. No further amendment is being considered in this regard.
Further, the Companies Act, 2013(read with rules made thereunder) has introduced significant changes and contains adequate provisions related to corporate governance viz disclosures to stakeholders, accountability of directors, auditors and key managerial personnel and investor protection.

(d): Government has not received any representations from Public Sector Undertakings(PSUs) to revise the 2% Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) norm.

(e)& (f): Schedule VII of the Act enlists areas or activities that qualify towards CSR spend. As per Section 135 (3) & (4) of the Act, the Board of the company has to ensure that the activities as are included in its CSR Policy are undertaken by the company. Further, the Government does not give any directions to Corporates to spend in any particular in area or activity, including Government Schemes.
As per the data obtained from the filings made by the companies in the MCA 21 registry, the details of the Sector-wise Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds spent by the companies under the Companies Act, 2013 for the financial years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 are Annexed.

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ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2377

SECTOR-WISE CSR EXPENDITURE (IN RS. CRORES)
Development Sector FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 FY 2017-18
Agro Forestry 57.64 43.45 7.5
Animal Welfare 66.66 78.3 16.54
Armed Forces, Veterans, War Widows/ Dependents 11.14 37.08 16.24
Art And Culture 119.08 304.43 212.43
Clean Ganga Fund 32.82 24.37 2.11
Conservation Of Natural Resources 38.19 117.07 144.84
Education 4081.73 4459.68 2705.3
Environmental Sustainability 809.86 1072.34 837.49
Gender Equality 73.24 72.69 11.04
Health Care 2574.2 2468.75 1144.83
Livelihood Enhancement Projects 400.82 514.17 473.11
NEC/ Not Mentioned 1065.23 388.96 0.00
Other Central Government Funds 332.92 417.99 215.66
Poverty, Eradicating Hunger, Malnutrition 1238.87 604.9 421.21
Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund 217.23 157.58 60.4
Rural Development Projects 1379.09 1548.95 1066.52
Safe Drinking Water 173.84 145.9 107.86
Sanitation 620.6 420.64 99.64
Senior Citizens Welfare 21.9 26.81 9.47
Setting Up Homes And Hostels For Women 29.11 62.25 54.93
Setting Up Orphanage 17.99 16.27 30.42
Slum Area Development 14.31 51.46 4.7
Socio-Economic Inequalities 75.64 145.83 74.56
Special Education 127.07 164.8 56.81
Swachh Bharat Kosh 325.2 183.83 118.69
Technology Incubators 26.77 23.09 5.2
Training To Promote Sports 138.92 178.53 121.94
Vocational Skills 332.93 372.64 251.54
Women Empowerment 124.59 139.65 94.37
Grand Total 14527.59 14242.41 8365.35
(On the basis of the filings made by the Companies upto 20.10.2018).
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