The 2013 Companies Act has brought a mixed bag of results: it has structured and regulated CSR in India, but also increased the hurdles businesses must clear, as well as the social and monetary costs for companies.

The lack of effective punishment for companies that fail to meet the 2% CSR requirement is the most notable lacuna in the Indian Companies Act of 2013.  At the same time, mandatory CSR is not a replacement for state social spending, which is a key ingredient for the success of developing nations.