Salient Features of Companies Bill, 2012 on CSR:

Lok Sabha on 18th December, 2012 passed Companies Bill, 2012.

Clause 135:
(1) Every company having net worth of rupees five hundred crore or more, or turnover
of rupees one thousand crore or more or a net profit of rupees five crore or more during
any financial year shall constitute a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the
Board consisting of three or more directors, out of which at least one director shall be an
independent director.






(2) The Board's report under sub-section (3) of section 134 shall disclose the composition
of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.
(3) The Corporate Social Responsibility Committee shall:
      (a) Formulate and recommend to the Board, a Corporate Social Responsibility
       Policy which shall indicate the activities to be undertaken by the company as
       specified in Schedule VII;
       (b) Recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities
      referred to in clause (a); and
      (c) Monitor the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the company from time
      to time.
(4) The Board of every company referred to in sub-section (1) shall:
      (a) After taking into account the recommendations made by the Corporate Social
       Responsibility Committee, approve the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy for
       the company and disclose contents of such Policy in its report and also place it on
       the company's website, if any, in such manner as may be prescribed; and
       (b) Ensure that the activities as are included in Corporate Social Responsibility
      Policy of the company are undertaken by the company.
(5) The Board of every company referred to in sub-section (1), shall ensure that the
company spends, in every financial year, at least two per cent of the average net profits
of the company made during the three immediately preceding financial years, in
pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy: Provided that the company
shall give preference to the local area and areas around it where it operates, for
spending the amount earmarked for Corporate Social Responsibility activities: Provided
further that if the company fails to spend such amount, the Board shall, in its report
made under clause (o) of sub-section (3) of section 134, specify the reasons for not
spending the amount.
Explanation.--for the purposes of this section "average net profit" shall be calculated in
accordance with the provisions of section 198.







SCHEDULE VII
Activities which may be included by companies in their Corporate Social Responsibility
Policies Activities relating to:
       (i) Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty;
       (ii) Promotion of education;
       (iii) Promoting gender equality and empowering women;
       (iv) Reducing child mortlity and improving maternal health;
       (v) Combating human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency
       syndrome, malaria and other diseases;
       (vi) Ensuring environmental sustainability;
       (vii) Employment enhancing vocational skills;
       (viii) Social business projects;
       (ix) Contribution to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund or any other fund
       set up by the Central Government or the State Governments for socio-economic
       development and relief and funds for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, the
       Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women; and
       (x) Such other matters as may be prescribed.