The Ministry of Corporate Affairs constituted a High Level Committee on 3^rd  February, 2015 to suggest measures for monitoring the progress of implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies by companies. The terms of reference of the Committee being as follows:

• To recommend suitable methodologies for monitoring compliance of the provisions of Section 135 (Corporate Social Responsibility) of the Companies Act, 2013 by the companies covered thereunder.
• To suggest measures to be recommended by the Government for adoption by the companies for systematic monitoring and evaluation of their own CSR initiatives.
• To identify strategies for monitoring and evaluation of CSR initiatives through expert agencies and institutions to facilitate adequate feedback to the Government with regard to efficacy of CSR expenditure and quality of compliance by the companies.
• To examine if a different monitoring mechanism is warranted for Government Companies undertaking CSR, and if so to make suitable recommendations in this behalf.
• Any other matter incidental to the above or connected thereto.

The Committee has submitted its report alongwith its recommendations on 22nd September, 2015. The report including the recommendations of the committee has been placed in the public domain on the Ministry’s website (www.mca.gov.in).

This was stated by Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Corporate Affairs in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Corporate Social Responsibility monitoring recommended; committee proposes methodologies, company evaluation and public reporting of compliance and effectiveness. The High Level Committee recommended methodologies for monitoring compliance with Section 135 and measures for companies to systematically monitor and evaluate CSR initiatives, including independent evaluation by expert agencies and consideration of distinct mechanisms for Government Companies; its report and recommendations have been placed in the public domain.