From Research to Policy: Corporate Social Responsibility and Contemporary Challenges in Sustainable Development

Abstract Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has come a long way from being a voluntary act of philanthropy to a mandated legal requirement. With the introduction of Section 135 in the Companies Act, 2013, India became the first country to legally mandate CSR spending. However, as we look at the present scenario, a pressing question arises: are we actually achieving sustainable development, or are companies just ticking boxes to comply with the law? This paper explores the journey of CSR from research to policy, highlighting the contemporary challenges like greenwashing, lack of standardised impact measurement, and the disconnect between corporate boardrooms and grassroots realities. Relying entirely on secondary data, including Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) reports and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) filings, this study evaluates how current CSR policies are faring. The findings suggest that while financial compliance has improved, the actual on-ground impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs) remains uneven. The paper concludes that for CSR to truly drive change, we need a shift from a 'spend-based' mindset to an 'impact-based' approach, backed by stricter policy frameworks and genuine stakeholder engagement.