Corporate social responsibility conference concludes in New Delhi
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs concluded the Third National Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility, urging stronger governance and measurable outcomes.
Growth Brief DeskPublished Updated 2 min read
Photo: Skytech Aviation (opens in a new tab) on Unsplash (opens in a new tab)
Key facts
- IICA concluded the Third National Conference and Exhibition on CSR (NCCSR 2026) at The Ashok, New Delhi
- Over 600 senior representatives from government, industry, academia and civil society attended
- Former Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth released the Compendium of CSR Best Practices 2025
- Panels covered AI in CSR, the CSR Exchange portal and the PM Internship Scheme
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, concluded the Third National Conference and Exhibition on Corporate Social Responsibility (NCCSR 2026) at The Ashok, New Delhi. Held under the theme Re-envisioning the Spirit of CSR for Viksit Bharat: From Compliance to Commitment, the two-day event focused on improving governance, institutional coordination, and measurable social outcomes.
Addressing the valedictory session, Shri Ajit Seth, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, said that CSR should be viewed not merely as a statutory obligation but as a strategic instrument for India’s growth. He emphasized that the success of Corporate Social Responsibility should be measured by the difference it makes to people's lives rather than just expenditure.
He also released the Compendium of CSR Best Practices 2025. Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA, noted the increasing breadth of India’s CSR ecosystem, covering board governance, artificial intelligence, and women’s economic empowerment.
Prof. Garima Dadhich, Head, School of Business Environment, IICA, presented key outcomes from the event, which brought together over 600 senior representatives from government, public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. The conference featured high-level panel discussions on leveraging artificial intelligence and technology, the CSR Exchange portal, decentralising CSR for inclusive regional growth, and linking skills to employment through the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS).
Shri Balamurugan D, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, invited businesses to leverage opportunities under the PMIS to bridge the gap between youth skills and employment requirements.
Why it matters
Corporate social responsibility spending plays a major role in funding grassroots development, education, and healthcare across India. For businesses and corporate boards, evolving compliance standards and a push toward outcome-driven projects mean greater accountability in how funds are allocated and monitored. By emphasizing regional balance, technology integration, and alignment with national initiatives like the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme, policymakers are steering corporate funds toward structured, long-term economic impact rather than routine spending, directly influencing how companies design and execute their social commitments.
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Economy
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Sources
Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Corporate Affairs