The Capacity Building Commission (CBC), in collaboration with the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and in partnership with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), organised the “Bharat CPSEs’ Capacity Building Workshop on CSR Governance” on 12 March 2026 in New Delhi. The workshop brought together senior leadership from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), officials from Central Ministries, regulators, industry representatives and academic experts to deliberate on strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) governance and aligning sustainability initiatives with national development priorities.

The workshop served as a platform for dialogue on the evolving landscape of CSR governance and its integration with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Discussions focused on enabling CPSEs to move from compliance-driven CSR practices towards strategic and outcome-oriented initiatives that generate measurable social impact while contributing to India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Delivering the inaugural address, Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, DG & CEO, IICA, highlighted the evolving role of CSR in India’s development framework and emphasised aligning CSR initiatives with ESG principles and the SDGs through strategic planning and innovation.

Setting the context, Dr. Alka Mittal, Member, CBC, highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and competency-driven capabilities for effective CSR implementation across CPSEs.

In his opening remarks, Shri Jagdeep Gupta, Secretary, CBC, underlined the strategic role of CPSEs in advancing national development priorities through impactful CSR initiatives aligned with sustainability frameworks.

The workshop witnessed participation from representatives of Maharatna, Navratna and other CPSEs, officials from ministries and government institutions, CSR leaders from industry bodies and experts from academia and policy institutions.

Technical sessions focused on strategic CSR planning, aligning CSR with the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening impact measurement frameworks and mainstreaming ESG within corporate strategy. An expert talk on Net Zero Emission Pathways for India highlighted the role of CPSEs in advancing sustainability transitions.

Addressing the participants, Shri Lucas L. Kamsuan, Joint Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, emphasised that CSR should be viewed not merely in terms of corporate contribution but by the impact it creates on society. 

The Bharat CPSEs’ Capacity Building Workshop on CSR Governance marks an important step towards strengthening sustainability-led governance across CPSEs and enhancing their contribution to India’s broader development and sustainability goals.