Abstract
Developing countries are struggling to meet UN SDGs due to limited resources. Corporations, with their large technological, financial, and managerial resources, have the means to contribute to the social development agenda of a country. India conducted a unique experiment by making it mandatory for large firms to spend 2% of their net profits on corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditures by enacting the CSR Act in 2013. It has been over 10 years since the implementation of the Act in 2014. Over INR 800 billion has been spent on various development projects under CSR initiatives. Understanding how these funds are allocated among different activities, beneficiaries from the implementation of CSR projects, and their impact on various development indicators would give insights to policymakers to utilize these funds in a more efficient manner. Considering district-level CSR expenditure data from 2014 to 2021 across India, this study provides a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of CSR expenditures in India, determinants of location of CSR projects, geographic inequities in CSR expenditure, and the contribution of CSR funds to health outcomes.