Companies spend over Rs 18600 cr towards CSR in 2 years

New Delhi. As many as 12,431 companies together shelled out more than Rs 18,625 crore towards social welfare activities in the last two financial years, the government said today. 
 
Under the Companies Act, 2013, a certain class of profitable companies are required to spend at least 2 per cent of their three-year annual average net profit towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) works in a fiscal. 
 
The norm came into effect from April 1, 2014. In 2015-16, a total of 5,097 companies incurred a CSR expenditure of Rs 9,822.30 crore with private sector entities accounting for the major chunk. 
 
Of the total amount, 4,925 private firms incurred CSR expenses of Rs 6,462.10 crore while 172 public sector companies shelled out Rs 3,360.20 crore, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Lok Sabha. 
 
According to the written reply, 7,334 companies spent a total of Rs 8,803 crore towards CSR works in 2014-15 financial year. While 7,108 private companies saw an expenditure of Rs 6,306 crore, as many as 226 public sector undertakings spent Rs 2,497 crore. The figures are based on the number of companies for which data has been compiled by the Ministry. India.com

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