Trends and Patterns of Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure: A Study of Manufacturing Firms in India

This paper analysed the trends and pattern of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure of manufacturing firms in India in both voluntary and mandatory period. For the analysis, this study used CMIE Prowess IQ database and data from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The period of study is from 2000 -2015. The paper defined CSR as a company’s engagement in social activities outside the firm which may benefit, direct and indirect, stakeholders of the firm. The result shows that there is an increase in CSR expenditure of manufacturing firms; this increase was more visible after the enactment of the Companies Act 2013.