According to Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Steel must spend at least 2% of their average profit from the last three years on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. If any money is left unspent, it must be used the next year for the same purpose.

In the last three years, CPSEs have supported many social projects through their CSR funds. These projects focus on things like education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, helping people with disabilities, creating jobs through Self Help Groups, and improving water and sanitation.

However, due to financial losses in 2023–24 and 2024–25, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) could not spend any money on CSR. On the other hand, KIOCL used extra CSR money saved from 2021–22 to meet its 2024–25 CSR requirement, which is allowed under the law.

Most CSR work happens near steel plants, townships, and mining areas, where many Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and poor communities live. The exact number of people who benefited and details of where the money was spent are not recorded.

This information was shared by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, in a written answer in the Lok Sabha.