New Delhi: Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) will be required to adopt at least one district identified under the Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives during FY27 and FY28, according to an office memorandum issued by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

The directive forms part of a common CSR theme notified for the next two financial years, with a focus on nutrition, sports development and livelihood enhancement. Under existing DPE guidelines, around 60 per cent of the annual CSR expenditure of CPSEs is expected to be aligned with the notified thematic programme.

The move comes at a time when CSR spending by CPSEs has registered significant growth. According to the latest Public Enterprises Survey, CSR expenditure by 183 eligible CPSEs rose to ₹6,437 crore in FY25 from ₹4,915 crore in FY24, marking an increase of 31 per cent.

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., NTPC Ltd., Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. emerged as the top five contributors to CSR expenditure during the year.

The DPE memorandum divides the common CSR theme for FY27 and FY28 into three broad segments.

The first segment, titled ‘Nutrition’, focuses on strengthening early childhood infrastructure and services. Activities under this category include construction of Anganwadi buildings, provision of functional toilets and drinking water facilities, installation of smart televisions for early learning and other related interventions.

The second segment, ‘Development of Sporting Activities’, aims to promote sports through creation of infrastructure and support for sporting initiatives.

The third segment, ‘Innovative Livelihood Enhancement’, seeks to improve employment and skill opportunities through support for equipment, infrastructure, digital learning tools, modern workshops and laboratories, smart classrooms and digital learning infrastructure. It also prescribes “adopting one or more of the 100 Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) districts that align with their operational geography.”

Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana aims to accelerate the development of 100 agricultural districts identified on the basis of low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit indicators. The programme will be implemented in partnership with state governments through convergence of existing schemes and targeted interventions.

District allocation among states will be based on their share of net cropped area and operational holdings, although every state will have at least one district covered under the scheme.

The programme seeks to improve agricultural productivity, encourage crop diversification and sustainable farming practices, expand post-harvest storage facilities at panchayat and block levels, strengthen irrigation infrastructure and improve access to both short-term and long-term agricultural credit.

CPSEs have remained among the largest contributors to social sector initiatives in the country. Their CSR activities span areas such as healthcare, sanitation, education, skill development, rural development, disaster management, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, sports, arts and culture, and welfare of armed forces personnel.

According to government data, CPSEs have collectively spent more than ₹24,000 crore on CSR activities over the last five years.

The common CSR theme notified by DPE has evolved over the years, largely centring on health and nutrition. School education, healthcare and nutrition were identified as priority areas in 2019-20. Health and nutrition remained the focus from 2020-21 to 2024-25, with the 2021-22 theme carrying a special emphasis on COVID-19 response measures, including makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID care facilities. The 2024-25 theme also included support for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme.

For FY27 and FY28, the focus has widened beyond health and nutrition to include sports infrastructure and livelihood creation, while linking a part of CSR spending to the government’s agricultural district development programme.

BI Bureau