MCA Notifies Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules 2022

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) has notified Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules 2022 via issuing Notification.

The Notification stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred under section 135 and sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, namely:-

These rules may be called the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Amendment Rules, 2022.”

This Notification further provided that in Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 3, following proviso shall be inserted, namely: –

“Provided further that a company having any amount in its Unspent Corporate Social Responsibility Account as per sub-section (6) of section 135 shall constitute a CSR Committee and comply with the provisions contained in sub-sections (2) to (6) of the said section.”; and sub-rule (2) shall be omitted.”

In rule 4, for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: –

‘(1) The Board shall ensure that the CSR activities are undertaken by the company itself or through, –

(a) a company established under section 8 of the Act, or a registered public trust or a registered society, exempted under sub-clauses (iv), (v), (vi) or (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 or registered under section 12A and approved under 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), established by the company, either singly or along with any other company; or

(b) a company established under section 8 of the Act or a registered trust or a registered society, established by the Central Government or State Government; or

(c) any entity established under an Act of Parliament or a State legislature; or

(d) a company established under section 8 of the Act, or a registered public trust or a registered society, exempted under sub-clauses (iv), (v), (vi) or (via) of clause (23C) of section 10 or registered under section 12A and approved under 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and having an established track record of at least three years in undertaking similar activities.

Explanation.- For the purpose of clause (c), the term “entity” shall mean a statutory body constituted under an Act of Parliament or State legislature to undertake activities covered in Schedule VII of the Act.’.

In the said rules, in rule 8, in sub-rule (3), in clause (c),-

(i) for the words “five percent”, the words “two per cent.” shall be substituted;

(ii) for the words “whichever is less”, the words “whichever is higher” shall be substituted

To Read Official Notification Download PDF Given Below: