The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Grant Thornton India LLP have signed a memorandum of understanding. The objective of the MoU which was signed yesterday in Delhi is to develop capacity of the Indian companies for effective implementation of the CSR Rules laid down as per Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, DG&CEO, IICAand Mr. Vikesh Harish Mehta, Partner, Grant Thornton India LLP.

Dr. Chatterjee pointed out that “With the notification of the rules the agenda has been set for knowledge and awareness building and to show the corporates what they can do for national development.” He added that “IICA creates directional sense and disseminates information. We need partners who share our vision and we are privileged & optimistic to have found GT because this has a kind of connect and synergy that will lead to value creation all around”.

Mr. Mehta said that “The legislation for CSR is a revolutionary concept. Tying up with IICA is a complementary partnership, which will create solid infrastructure for common clients.” He further said that “So far regulation had been compliance driven and the new law takes CSR beyond compliance.”

Mr. Rajib Kumar Debnath, Executive Director, Sustainability, CSR and Energy Services, gave an overview of Grant Thornton’s orientation towards CSR projects. Others present at the MoU signing ceremony were Swarnima Chouhan, Associate Vice President from Grant Thornton, and Mr. Atul Dev Sarmah, Head, Centre for Institutional Partnerships and Corporate Communications (IP&CC), Ms. Gayatri Subramaniam, CPE, NGO Hub, National Foundation for CSR (NFCSR), Ms. Swagata Sen Pillai, Sr. Programme Executive, IP&CC, M. Mukesh Kumar, CPE, Data Centre, NFCSR, and Mr. Nikhil Pant, L&D, NFCSR from IICA.

CSR rules capacity-building partnership advances implementation and moves corporate social responsibility beyond mere compliance through institutional collaboration. A memorandum of understanding between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and Grant Thornton India LLP aims to develop corporate capacity for effective implementation of CSR Rules under Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, focusing on knowledge and awareness building, dissemination of information, and shifting CSR from mere compliance to structured value-creation through institutional collaboration and advisory support.