MCA Adds Social Stock Exchange Instruments to CSR List

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued Notification G.S.R. 416(E) dated May 27, 2026, amending Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. The amendment has been made in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 467 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Through this notification, the Central Government has inserted a new item in Schedule VII, which lists activities that may be included by companies in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies. The newly inserted item (xiii) provides for “Subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on Social Stock Exchange.”

As a result of this amendment, subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on a Social Stock Exchange has been expressly included among the activities that may qualify under CSR policies of companies. The amendment has been incorporated after item (xii) of Schedule VII and its related entries.

The notification further states that the amendment shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette i.e. 27th May, 2026.

Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 specifies the activities that may be undertaken by companies as part of their CSR obligations under Section 135 of the Act. The notification also notes that Schedule VII was originally brought into force with effect from April 1, 2014, and has undergone several amendments through notifications issued between 2014 and 2020.

With the insertion of item (xiii), Schedule VII now specifically includes subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on the Social Stock Exchange as an eligible CSR activity under the Companies Act, 2013.

MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 27th May, 2026

G.S.R. 416(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 467 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in the Schedule VII to the said Act, namely: —

In the said Schedule, after item (xii) and the entries relating thereto, the following item and entry shall be inserted, namely:-

“(xiii) Subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on Social Stock Exchange.”

2. This notification shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

[e-F. No. CSR-10/13/2025-CSR-MCA]
RAHUL JAIN, Jt. Secy.

Note. —The Schedule VII was brought into force with effect from 1^st April, 2014 and was subsequently amended vide notification number GSR 130(E), dated the 27^th February, 2014, GSR 568(E), dated the 6^th August, 2014, GSR 741(E), dated 24^th the October, 2014, GSR 390(E), dated the 30^th May, 2019, GSR 776(E), dated the 11^th October, 2019, GSR 313(E), dated the 26^th May, 2020, GSR 399(E), dated the 23^rd June, 2020 and GSR 525(E), dated the 24^th August, 2020.