The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) organizes Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) with the objectives of creating awareness amongst the investors about fraudulent schemes and the need for informed investment decision. The IAPs are organized in association with the three Professional Institutes, namely, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Institute of Cost Accountants of India. So far, 6871 such programmes have been organized during the period 2011-12 to 2013-14. Besides, 100 programmes were also organized in rural areas during 2012-13 and 2013-14 through Common Service Centres (CSCs) set up under Department of Electronics and Information Technology. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) also conducts similar programmes through Resource Persons, Investor Associations, Exchanges, Depositories and various trade bodies. SEBI also carries out highly visible campaigns on the electronic media particularly with a view to educate public about financial schemes offering abnormally high rates of interest.

Sector-wise segregation of expenditure to be incurred by companies under the Corporate Social Responsibility is not envisaged under the Companies Act, 2013.

There is no proposal to introduce Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in the country with the Ministry.

This information was given by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, MoS in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Investor education: awareness programmes and regulatory guidance emphasized; sectoral CSR allocation not mandated under Companies Act. Investor awareness has been advanced through Investor Awareness Programmes run with professional institutes and rural outreach via Common Service Centres, supplemented by public electronic-media campaigns and resource-person programmes to warn against fraudulent schemes and promote informed investment. Sector-wise segregation of CSR expenditure is not envisaged under the Companies Act, 2013, and there is no proposal to introduce the Eco Management and Audit Scheme.