Parliament Question: Corporate Social Responsibility Investment Norms

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3559 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026/SHRAVANA 19, 1948 (SAKA) CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INVESTMENT NORMS Question 3559. Shri Tanuj Punia: Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has introduced major amendments to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investment norms to allow companies to directly invest their CSR funds, in Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) listed on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE); (b) if so, the details thereof along with the primary objective behind this move; (c) whether investments made by companies under these revised norms are likely to be treated as valid CSR expenditure under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the Government has conducted any assessment regarding the extent to which this policy intervention is likely to boost the inflow of institutional capital into the social sector and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS [SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA] (a) to (c): Yes Sir. The Ministry has vide notification dated 27.05.2026 widened the ambit of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act’) by introduction of new item no. (xiii) namely “Subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on Social Stock Exchange." As per the said amendment, the CSR mandated company shall not subscribe to ZCZP instrument for more than ten percent of the total CSR expenditure for that financial year. This amendment is aimed at providing significant ease of compliance to the companies and will also help Not for Profit Organisations to raise funding for public welfare projects in a transparent and regulated manner. (d) No such assessment has been conducted by the Ministry. *****