Lok Sabha Question No. 3740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: CSR Spending in Desert and Border Districts
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3740 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026/PHALGUNA 25, 1947 (SAKA)

## CSR SPENDING IN DESERT AND BORDER DISTRICTS QUESTION

3740. Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken steps to encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending in desert and border districts like Barmer; (b) if so, the details thereof, particularly in sectors such as education, water management, and skill development; and (c) whether any monitoring mechanism has been set up to ensure effective utilization of CSR funds in these areas, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS   AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## [SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA]

(a) & (b) :  Under the Companies Act, 2013 ('Act'), CSR is a Board driven process and the Board of the company is empowered to plan, decide, execute and monitor CSR activities of the  company  based  on  the  recommendation  of  its  CSR  Committee.  This  Committee formulates and recommends the CSR policy, which outlines the activities to be undertaken by  the  company  in  alignment  with  the  areas  or  subjects  specified  in  Schedule  VII. The Government does not issue any directions to Corporates to spend in any particular area or activity.    On  the  basis  of  annual  filings  filed  by  the  companies  in  MCA21  registry,  the development sector-wise details of CSR expenditure in the district of Barmer for the last three financial years (FYs) i.e. 2021-22 to 2023-24 is attached at Annexure.

(c): The existing legal provisions regarding formation of CSR committee, formulation of CSR policy, Annual Action Plan on CSR, identification of the project and area in which project will be implemented, certification of CSR expenditure by Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and audit  of  CSR  expenditure  by  statutory  auditors,  etc.,  provide  adequate  mechanisms  to ensure transparency and accountability. The Board has to ensure that the approved amount has been spent on the assigned activity(ies).

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## Annexure

## Refer to part (a) & (b) of Lok  Sabha Unstarred Question no. 3740 for 16.03.2026 Development Sector-wise CSR expenditure in Barmer district from FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24

## (Amount in Rupees Crore)

| S.No.   | Development Sector                             | FY 2021-22   | FY 2022-23   | FY 2023-24   |
|---------|------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| 1.      | Animal welfare                                 | 0.16         | 0.77         | 2.51         |
| 2.      | Armed Forces, Veterans, War Widows/ Dependants | 0.03         | 0.26         | 0.03         |
| 3.      | Art and culture                                | 0.25         | 0.25         | 0.13         |
| 4.      | Conservation of natural resources              | -            | 0.00         | 0.58         |
| 5.      | Education                                      | 3.92         | 2.86         | 5.47         |
| 6.      | Environmental sustainability                   | 0.73         | 0.18         | 0.16         |
| 7.      | Health care                                    | 4.21         | 6.23         | 3.53         |
| 8.      | Livelihood enhancement projects                | 0.99         | 1.18         | 0.69         |
| 9.      | Poverty, Eradicating Hunger, Malnutrition      | 1.18         | 0.01         | 2.62         |
| 10.     | Rural development projects                     | 1.99         | 2.86         | 1.11         |
| 11.     | Safe drinking water                            | 1.31         | 1.82         | 0.38         |
| 12.     | Sanitation                                     | 0.57         | 0.01         | 0.20         |
| 13.     | Senior Citizens Welfare                        | 0.00         | -            | -            |
| 14.     | Special education                              | -            | 0.05         | -            |
| 15.     | Training to promote sports                     | 0.14         | 1.33         | 0.23         |
| 16.     | Vocational skills                              | 0.02         | 0.25         | 0.25         |
| 17.     | Women empowerment                              | 0.23         | 0.49         | 0.55         |
| Total   | Total                                          | 15.74        | 18.56        | 18.43        |

(Data upto 31.03.2025) (Source: Corporate Data Management Cell)

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