Title: Assessing synergies and challenges between CSR and SDG with evidence from India

Authors: Vikrant Kulkarni; Ashish Aggarwal

Addresses: Department of Business Sustainability, IIM Lucknow, B-1, Front Ave, Institutional Area, Block B, Industrial Area, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201307, India ' Department of Business Sustainability, IIM Lucknow, B-1, Front Ave, Institutional Area, Block B, Industrial Area, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201307, India

Abstract: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to tackle all the critical global issues by 2030, face fundamental resource challenges. This paper seeks to analyse if the funds available from CSR can act as an instrument for companies to contribute to SDG needs. The study of 60 Indian companies compares prescribed vs. actual CSR expenditure, the geographical and thematic spread of activities, and compliance towards specific provisions of the companies act. Our critical findings in the paper are that the business awareness of SDG has increased, and the pool of CSR funds has increased post-2014. There is a narrow focus on four thematic areas of education, healthcare, hunger, and poverty alleviation. The geographical spread of fund expenditure is limited to a few key states in India. And, while the reporting quality on CSR and sustainability efforts has improved, there is a long way to go to comply with the Act.

Keywords: CSR; Sustainable Development Goals; SDG; mandatory CSR; companies act; India; CSR reporting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2023.130091

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2023 Vol.28 No.4, pp.425 - 441

Received: 23 Jul 2021
Accepted: 13 Nov 2021
Published online: 05 Apr 2023 *

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