Question : CSR Spent by CPSEs

(a) the details of total funds allocated towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by top 25 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in the country during the last five years and;

(b) the details of expenditure of CSR amount by said CPSEs during this said period;

(c) the total CSR funds allocated through the CPSEs in Tamil Nadu during corresponding five years and the details of the expenditure incurred; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to provide and utilise the CSR funds from CPSEs to mitigate the Covid crisis and Covid care management?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
[RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

(a) to (c): The broad framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been provided under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act’), Schedule VII of the Act and Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014. The CSR framework is disclosure based and CSR mandated companies are required to file details of CSR activities annually in the MCA21 registry. All data related to CSR filed by companies in MCA21 registry is available in public domain at www.csr.gov.in. On the basis of the filings made by the companies in the MCA 21 registry, CSR spent by top 25 (CSR expenditure-wise) Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) for the financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is given below:

Financial
Year FY 2016-17
FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19
FY 2019-20
FY 2020-21

Amount Spent
(INR Cr.)
2,842.45
2,933.79
3,504.98
4,375.80
524.94*

*Data in respect of four CPSEs.
(Data upto 30.09.2021) [Source: National CSR Data Portal]
Contd….2/-
-2-

Further, on the basis of the filings made by the companies in the MCA 21 registry, CSR spent by the CPSEs in Tamil Nadu for the financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is given below:

Financial Year FY 2016-17 FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21
Amount Spent
(INR Cr.)
61.44
73.30
105.76
124.72
2.48

(Data upto 30.09.2021) [Source: National CSR Data Portal]

Regarding CSR data for financial year 2020-21, it is informed that the companies, including CPSEs, are required to hold Annual General Meeting (AGM) within six months from the end of financial year. Thereafter, financial statements and board reports containing disclosures about CSR, are to be filed in MCA21 within 30 days of the AGM. In view of the disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic, Registrars of Companies have accorded extension of time till 30th November, 2021 for conduct of AGMs by companies. The Ministry vide General Circular No. 17/2021 dated 29.10.2021 has relaxed the levy of additional fees till 31.12.2021 for filing of financial statement in respect of the financial year 2020-21.

(d): Schedule VII of the Act indicates the eligible list of activities that can be undertaken by the companies as CSR. The Ministry vide General Circular No. 14/2021 dated 25th August, 2021 clarified that items mentioned in Schedule VII are broad based and can be interpreted liberally. The Ministry vide General Circular no.10/2020 dated 23.03.2020 had clarified that CSR funds may be spent by the companies for various activities related to COVID-19 under item no. (i) and (xii) promoting healthcare including preventive healthcare and sanitation, and disaster management respectively. Further, vide General Circulars no. 05/2021, 09/2021 and 13/2021 dated 22.04.2021, 05.05.2021 & 30.07.2021, the Ministry had also clarified that spending of CSR funds for setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID care facilities and ‘creating health infrastructure for COVID care’, ‘establishment of medical oxygen generation and storage plants’, ‘manufacturing and supply of Oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders and other medical equipment for countering COVID-19’ and COVID-19 vaccination for persons other than the employees and their families, are eligible CSR activities.



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