Clarification on contribution to PM CARES Fund as eligible CSR activity under item no. (viii) of the Schedule VII of Companies Act,2013

eF. No. CSR-05/1/2020-CSR-MCA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

5th floor, A Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. R.P. Road. New Delhi-110001
28.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarification on contribution to PM CARES Fund as eligible CSR activity
under item no. (viii) of the Schedule VII of Companies Act, 2013.

The Government of India has set up the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and
Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund) with the primary objective of
dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as that posed by COVID
19 pandemic.

2. Item no. (viii) of the Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, which enumerates
   activities that may be undertaken by companies in discharge of their CSR obligations,
   inter alia provides that contribution to any fund set up by the Central Government for
   socio-economic development and relief qualifies as CSR expenditure. The PM-CARES
   Fund has been set up to provide relief to those affected by any kind of emergency or
   distress situation. Accordingly, it is clarified that any contribution made to the PM
   CARES Fund shall qualify as CSR expenditure under the Companies Act 2013.
3. This issues with the approval of competent authorty.

(Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh)
Joint Secretary to Govt of India

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