Business Ethics & Philanthropy

More than 50% of the world’s population is now online; roughly one million more people join the internet each day. Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR technologies are already bringing tremendous economic and societal benefits to much of the global population. Data are increasingly being collected on citizens by government and business alike, and these data...

TomTom's traffic index ranks Bengaluru as number 1 for the world's worst traffic. Bengaluru has a congestion level of 71%. Congestion reflects the additional or extra time taken to travel because of a traffic jam. An average commuter in Bangalore loses 243 hours a year stuck in congestion. Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi also feature...

On this same day last year, a suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy near Pulwama, in which 44 paramilitary personnel lost their lives, leaving the nation reeling in shock. In order to help the surviving families of the Pulwama martyrs, various companies deployed CSR funds to support their families while civilians came forward with...

It is very easy to think, “I know how it works. It has worked like this for years!” Ignoring the up-gradation of a business model considering the high expenses today could cost a lot more tomorrow. Climate activism is increasing by the day. The consumers today are bent towards associating themselves with brands that...

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave the longest budget speech in the Parliament, clocking over 2 hours and 30 minutes. Budget 2020 comes at a time of the worst economic slowdown the country has witnessed in over a decade. Will it be a harbinger of good times for the corporate sector and the common man?...

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) has distributed 22,000 cotton bags at a series of events around four of its factories located at Ameenpur near Hyderabad, Jalpaiguri near Siliguri, Srikalahasti near Chittoor and Goblej near Ahmedabad. The exercise aligns to the government’s efforts to encourage the use of sustainable materials. HCCB is among the first few...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 global goals that are adopted by 193 United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. These provide a unique chance for all sectors to rally around...

Much of the current discourse on equality and empowerment positions women and girls largely as beneficiaries of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the achievement of Goal 5 (Gender Equality) alone will not create a gender-equal world, says the report Women Leading the World to 2030 by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission. Women...

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is fast becoming a focal point of concern within the corporate world. While recognized for the benefits it offers an organization, it is also an invaluable system of giving back to the community or of paying it forward. Not limited merely to giving away charity, companies are now increasingly investing...

A new year, a new decade. In 2020, involved consumers are focused on reaching their personal, health, and professional goals. Similarly, while they do so, more and more of them are aligning with companies or brands that prioritize corporate social responsibility (CSR). As your business does some first-of-the-year reflecting, it’s important to ensure that its...

The year 2019 saw startling changes and additions to CSR law in India. Parliament passed amendments to the Companies Act to strengthen laws governing corporate social responsibility (CSR). There was drama over whether the govt. will impose imprisonment for non-compliance. The penal provision was done away with eventually. While Corporate India was thrilled about this,...

The Companies Act 2013 mandates the corporate houses to spend 2% of their net profits on CSR. It has now been over six years since the law has been implemented. However, there is a lack of clarity as to what qualifies as CSR in India among the corporates as well as people in general. Dr...