The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) mandated entities undertaking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to file eForm CSR-1 for all their CSR projects from 1 April 2021. The NGOs must register with the Central Government to undertake CSR activities funded by corporations and companies. This registration ensures effective monitoring of the CSR spending in the country.
Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 (‘Act’) and Rule 4(1) and Rule 4(2) of the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021 (‘Rules’) provides that the companies or entities that undertake CSR activities have to mandatorily register with the Central Government by filing the eForm CSR-1.
The Rules provides that a Board of a company should ensure the company itself undertakes the CSR activities or through:
Thus, a company can undertake a CSR activity on its own or through a company registered under Section 8, registered society, public trust or an NGO as mentioned above. All these entities mentioned above or the company that intends to undertake a CSR activity should mandatorily register themselves with the Registrar of Companies by filing the Form CSR-1 electronically.
Form CSR-1 is a form for registering entities to get CSR funding from the corporates and undertake CSR activities. The contents to be filled in Form CSR-1 are:
The Rules states the following process for the registration of the implementing authorities on the MCA portal:
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MCA mandated eForm CSR-1 filing for CSR projects from 1 April 2021, NGOs must register to be monitored. Companies must register under Companies Act, 2013. Form CSR-1 process includes verifying digitally by CA, CS, or cost accountant. Documents required include PAN card, registration certificate, exemption certificate, and CSR policy.