Section Article

Indian Consumers’ Awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Author(s): Veena Malik

Abstract
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a significant component of corporate governance public policy and consumer engagement in India. The enactment of the Companies Act 2013 mandating CSR expenditure for certain companies has further institutionalized corporate accountability and social investment. This study examines the awareness perceptions and attitudes of Indian consumers toward CSR initiatives undertaken by corporations focusing on the period 2018–2020. Utilizing secondary data from peer-reviewed journals government reports corporate publications and survey analyses the research investigates the extent to which consumers recognize CSR activities evaluate their credibility and incorporate CSR performance into purchasing behavior. The findings indicate that while urban consumers exhibit higher awareness of CSR initiatives rural and semi-urban populations show limited understanding highlighting gaps in communication and outreach strategies. Additionally consumers’ perception of CSR is influenced by corporate reputation industry sector and prior engagement with social causes. The study further explores the impact of CSR awareness on brand loyalty trust and ethical consumption demonstrating that informed consumers are more likely to support socially responsible companies. By analyzing consumer attitudes and engagement patterns the paper provides insights for corporations to design effective CSR strategies enhance public perception and align social initiatives with consumer expectations thereby strengthening the link between corporate responsibility and market performance in contemporary India.