**Provisions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Companies Act 2013**

The Companies Act 2013 in India introduced several provisions related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to encourage companies to contribute to the social, economic, and environmental development of the country. The CSR provisions are applicable to certain companies meeting specific criteria. Below are the key provisions of CSR as per the Companies Act 2013:

**1. Applicability and Eligibility:**
- The CSR provisions apply to companies meeting any of the following criteria:
- Net worth of INR 500 crore or more
- Turnover of INR 1000 crore or more
- Net profit of INR 5 crore or more
- Such companies must spend at least 2% of their average net profits made during the three preceding financial years on CSR activities.

**2. CSR Committee:**
- Companies meeting the criteria must constitute a CSR Committee consisting of at least three directors, including one independent director.
- The committee is responsible for formulating and recommending CSR policies, monitoring CSR activities, and ensuring compliance with the provisions.

**3. CSR Policy:**
- The CSR Committee must formulate and recommend a CSR policy to the board of directors, which should include the activities to be undertaken, the manner of implementation, and the monitoring process.
- The policy should be disclosed on the company's website and included in the Board's report.

**4. Permissible CSR Activities:**
- The Act provides a broad framework for permissible CSR activities, including:
- Eradicating hunger, poverty, and malnutrition
- Promoting education, gender equality, and women empowerment
- Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health
- Combating human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and other diseases
- Environmental sustainability, ecological balance, and conservation of natural resources
- Social business projects
- Rural development initiatives
- Any other activity approved by the CSR Committee and specified in the CSR policy.

**5. Implementation and Reporting:**
- Companies must implement CSR activities in accordance with their CSR policy.
- They are required to disclose the CSR initiatives in their annual report, including details of the amount spent, projects undertaken, and impact created.
- Independent third-party evaluation of CSR projects may also be undertaken.

**6. Penalties for Non-Compliance:**
- Non-compliance with the CSR provisions may result in penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for the officers of the company responsible for the violation.

Overall, the Companies Act 2013 has made it mandatory for certain companies to contribute a portion of their profits towards CSR activities. These provisions aim to promote sustainable development, social well-being, and environmental conservation through corporate participation.