CSR Reporting: Form CSR-2 and Annual Report Disclosures Explained
What companies must disclose about CSR: the annual report on CSR in the board's report, website disclosures and Form CSR-2 filed with the MCA.
CSR in India comes with significant disclosure requirements. Getting them right protects a company from penalties and builds trust with shareholders, regulators and communities.
1. The annual report on CSR
The board's report must include an annual report on CSR activities in the format set out in the CSR Rules. It covers:
- a brief outline of the CSR policy;
- the composition of the CSR committee;
- the CSR obligation and the amount spent;
- details of ongoing and other projects;
- unspent amounts and transfers; and
- a summary of impact assessments, where applicable.
2. Website disclosures
Companies must publish on their website the composition of the CSR committee, the CSR policy and the projects approved by the board.
3. Form CSR-2
Form CSR-2 is a separate e-form filed with the MCA that reports CSR details in a structured format. Its data feeds the government's National CSR Portal, the source of the state- and district-level statistics used in research such as our Bihar CSR Outlook Report.
Tips for accurate reporting
- Record every project's location at district level. Vague entries such as "PAN India" hide where money really goes.
- Keep utilisation certificates from every implementing agency.
- Reconcile with the Unspent CSR Account before filing (see unspent CSR rules).
- Report outcomes, not just spending, in the narrative sections.
Why location data matters
In FY 2023-24, about ₹7,962 crore of national CSR was not tied to any state, and in Bihar ₹16.41 crore was not tied to a district. Better reporting would show far more clearly where needs are being met, and where they are not.
General information only, not legal advice.
