A Comparative Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Spending and Compliance across Selected Sectors in Karnataka

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a mandatory and strategic element of corporate governance in India following the enactment of the Companies Act, 2013. This study examines the influence of the nature of business on CSR spending and compliance among selected companies in Karnataka. A comparative case study approach is adopted by selecting Infosys Limited (IT services), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (manufacturing), and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (energy sector). The study relies on secondary data sourced from the National CSR Data Portal (csr.gov.in) maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, covering the period from 2019–20 to 2023–24.

The analysis focuses on prescribed and actual CSR expenditure, compliance ratios, and sector-wise CSR spending trends. The findings reveal notable sectoral variations: Infosys demonstrates consistently high CSR spending with marginal unspent balances, KPTCL exhibits stable and near-complete compliance, while MRPL shows greater variability in CSR spending influenced by fluctuations in profitability. The study concludes that the nature of business significantly influences CSR expenditure patterns and compliance behavior, providing valuable insights for policymakers, corporate managers, and future researchers.