Patna: Bihar has taken a significant step towards leveraging corporate resources for public welfare, with the state government issuing a notification for the Bihar State Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy, 2025. The move, officials say, aims to encourage private companies to invest directly in developmental projects across the state.
Anand Kishore, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, outlined the policy details at a press briefing on Friday, revealing that a dedicated CSR Society has been established and will soon be formally registered. The society’s governing body, chaired by Bihar’s Chief Secretary, will include senior officials from 21 departments, while an executive committee led by the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department will oversee operations.
A dedicated CSR portal is now ready for launch and will be unveiled shortly by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary. The portal will serve as a comprehensive hub, offering information about CSR regulations, as well as details of 13 priority activities and government schemes where corporate funds can be directed. Companies will also have the option to take on maintenance responsibilities for projects they fund.
A major seminar is being planned to promote the policy, with the state government preparing to invite leading corporations to discuss avenues for collaboration.
“There’s tremendous potential for CSR investment in Bihar,” Kishore said. “Companies whose assets exceed Rs 500 crore, annual turnover surpasses Rs 1,000 crore, or net profits are above Rs 50 crore are eligible to allocate two percent of their average net profits over three years towards CSR.”
Currently, 24,932 companies fall into this category nationwide. However, Bihar has received only a fraction of such investments. During the 2022–23 financial year, companies spent Rs 29,727 crore under CSR nationwide, but just one percent of that amount flowed into Bihar. Officials argue the state should attract at least ten percent of the national CSR expenditure.
“Bihar’s top ten corporations are well-placed for significant CSR activities,” Kishore added. “But until now, much of their CSR spending has been diverted to other states due to the absence of a clear policy. We believe this new framework will help ensure that funds are directed where they are most needed here in Bihar.”
