Third National Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility Concludes
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, concluded the two-day Third National Conference and Exhibition on Corporate Social Responsibility (NCCSR 2026) at The Ashok, New Delhi. The conference was organized under the theme "Re-envisioning the Spirit of CSR for Viksit Bharat: From Compliance to Commitment" and brought together over 600 senior representatives from government, public sector enterprises, private sector companies, international organizations, academia, and civil society.
Valedictory Session and Key Addresses
Shri Ajit Seth, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, delivered the valedictory address emphasizing that CSR success should be measured by developmental impact rather than mere expenditure quantum. He noted that CSR has emerged as a substantial source of development expenditure and is embedded within corporate governance evolution. Seth cautioned against tokenism and called for addressing geographical imbalances in CSR spending, particularly in underserved districts. He stressed that technology should strengthen visibility and monitoring but cannot substitute field knowledge and administrative judgment.
Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO of IICA, stated that the deliberations reflected the increasing breadth and maturity of India's CSR ecosystem, covering issues of Board governance, sector-specific approaches, technology, regional distribution of resources, and outcome assessment.
Conference Proceedings and Panel Discussions
The conference featured multiple high-level panels and expert dialogues. A panel on "Transforming CSR through AI & Technology" examined the use of Artificial Intelligence, digital tools, and data systems in CSR program planning, implementation, monitoring, and assessment. Representatives from SBI Foundation, ICICI Bank, HCLFoundation, IndiGo, GIVE, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham participated.
Another high-level panel on "CSR Exchange: Enabling Convergence, Collaboration and Collective Impact" examined the role of the CSR Exchange Portal in improving coordination among companies and implementing organizations. Chaired by Shri Anil Swarup, former Secretary to the Government of India, the panel recommended strengthening the portal through data integration, automated processes, and mechanisms for identifying credible implementing organizations.
An Expert Dialogue on "Investing in CARE: Reimagining CSR for Women Economic Empowerment" examined the relationship between care responsibilities and women's economic participation, with participation from SEWA Bharat, Grant Thornton, and UN Women.
Key Recommendations and Outcomes
The panel on "Decentralising CSR for Inclusive Regional Growth" recommended developing universal indicators for CSR project assessment to enable consistency and comparability of outcomes across regions and sectors. Representatives from Department of Public Enterprises, NSE Foundation, Spark Minda Group, Tata Steel Foundation, Inclusion Foundation, Western Coalfields Limited, and ONGC Foundation participated.
Another Expert Dialogue on "Leveraging CSR and PMIS – From Skills to Employment" featured Shri Balamurugan D, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, who invited businesses to leverage opportunities under the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme (PMIS). The discussion focused on improving the transition from skilling to employment, with participation from ONGC, Dixon Technologies India Ltd, and Quess Corp Ltd.
Publications and Documentation
Shri Ajit Seth released the Compendium of CSR Best Practices 2025, which documents practices showcased by exhibitors during NCCSR 2025. Additionally, the Compendium of CSR Best Practices from the National Exhibition on Corporate Social Responsibility 2024 was released, documenting selected CSR initiatives from the previous edition.
The conference concluded with a consensus that CSR interventions need to move beyond expenditure and compliance toward stronger governance, evidence-based planning, institutional collaboration, and measurable development outcomes aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.