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OPINION NOVEMBER 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 10

From Corporate Social

Responsibility to Personal

Social Responsibility

The challenge is to make goodness something we develop, practise and measure

RAVI SHARMA

ndia has made remarkable prog-
ress in institutionalising Corpo-
Irate Social Responsibility (CSR).
What began as a voluntary commit-
ment is now a statutory obligation.
In 2024-25, companies spent a record
R40,794 crore on CSR, up 17 per
cent in a single year; about 55 per
cent went to two causes: education
and healthcare.
That is a real achievement. Yet,
it raises a question: can we build
a good society simply by spending
more money?
Consider another indicator. In
Transparency International’s 2025
Corruption Perceptions Index, India
scored 39 out of 100 and ranked 91st
among 182 countries. Despite strong
economic progress, corruption, weak
civic responsibility, environmental
negligence and social mistrust re-
main serious concerns.
The problem, then, is not only a
shortage of money. It is also a ques-
tion of human behaviour, values and Courtesy: Business India
character. That is where we must look
beyond CSR, to a different idea: Per-
sonal Social Responsibility (PSR). sionate or trustworthy. sure social spending too. But how tutional and resource-driven. It asks
A good beginning, not the desti- A school can be built with CSR do we measure the integrity of our what corporations should contribute
nation: The Companies Act 2013 re- funds. But what ensures that teach- institutions, the responsibility of our to society. PSR is individual and be-
quires qualifying companies to spend ers teach with commitment and ad- citizens, or the respect people show haviour-driven. It asks how each of
at least 2 per cent of their average ministrators act with integrity? A one another? us should conduct ourselves towards
net profits of the preceding three hospital can be fully equipped. But These are not peripheral con- others, whatever our age, profession,
financial years on eligible CSR ac- what ensures that patients are treat- cerns. They shape the quality and income or position.
tivities. Schools have been support- ed with dignity and fairness? A proj- sustainability of development it- What, then, is PSR in its real
ed, healthcare facilities established, ect can plant thousands of trees. But self. Poverty and inequality have form? It is nothing but the inculca-
sanitation improved and livelihoods what stops people from polluting the structural causes that need material tion of goodness in behaviour. Good-
strengthened. These contributions river next door? solutions, but even well-funded pro- ness is the quality; PSR is that quality
are valuable and must continue. CSR can create facilities and grammes are undermined by dis- shown in everyday conduct. Good-
But education and healthcare opportunities. It cannot, through ex- honesty, indifference and misuse of ness in action is what we call Personal
spending mostly builds facilities and penditure alone, create the character resources. A nation can grow richer Social Responsibility.
services and CSR is reported in ru- needed to use them well. without becoming a better society. A teacher practises PSR through
pees spent, projects completed and The missing dimension of devel- This is the missing dimension in our commitment and fairness. A doctor,
beneficiaries reached. None of this opment: We measure GDP, invest- development discourse. through ethical and compassionate
tells us whether society is becoming ment, highways, airports and digital From corporate responsibility to care. A business leader, through in-
more honest, responsible, compas- connectivity. Increasingly, we mea- personal responsibility: CSR is insti- Continued on next page... >>

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