Corporate Social Responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals: Insights from India

This article aims to discuss the contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards achieving the sustainable goals in India. Drawing on secondary data analysis, first it presents the broad alignment of CSR activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Second, it reinforces this alignment by discussing three cases and CSR expenditure patterns at the national level. While acknowledging the important contributions made by CSR, it argues that the scope and coverage of CSR need to expand beyond their immediate milieu and include environmental goals targeted under the SDGs. It also calls for all corporates to contribute to this critical cause. Further, it points out the need to employ professional and people/community-centred approaches in effectively planning and translating CSR projects and programmes. This analysis has implications for reinvigorating and directing CSR towards achieving all SDGs.