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CSR and sustainability reporting practices in India: an in-depth content analysis of top-listed companies

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  • Priyanka Aggarwal
  • Ajay Kumar Singh

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively analyze the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability reporting (SR) practices of Indian companies in terms of disclosure quantity and quality, and to investigate the differences in SR practices by SR dimension, industry, ownership structure, firm size and profitability. Design/methodology/approach - Data are collected from annual reports/business responsibility reports (BRR)/CSR/sustainability reports of 60 top-listed companies in India. A comprehensive sustainability reporting index is developed. Content analysis technique is used. Inter-coder reliability is established. Findings - Altogether, 18 items of the index are not disclosed by the majority of companies in India. SR quality is found significantly lower than the SR quantity. Moreover, SR practices significantly differ by dimension/category, industry-type and firm-size but are not influenced by ownership structure. However, the study fails to establish any conclusive relationship between SR and profitability. Practical implications - The present study has several implications for corporates, practitioners, policymakers and stakeholders. The findings underscore the need for amendments in the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines and BRR framework of the Securities and Exchange Board of India to avoid patchy disclosures and ensure complete reporting by companies. Originality/value - This study is among the foremost studies in India evaluating SR practices of top-listed companies in the wake of the mandatory BRR requirement from a quantitative as well as qualitative perspective using a multidimensional index.

Suggested Citation

  • Priyanka Aggarwal & Ajay Kumar Singh, 2018. "CSR and sustainability reporting practices in India: an in-depth content analysis of top-listed companies," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(8), pages 1033-1053, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:srjpps:srj-03-2018-0078
    DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-03-2018-0078
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lovemore Chikazhe & Blessing Chigunha & Martin Dandira & Tendai Silvaziso Mandere & King Christopher Muchenje, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Mediator of the Effect of Brand Awareness and Corporate Reputation on Customer Loyalty," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 11(1), pages 243-261, June.
    2. Prasad, Krishna & Kumar, Satish & Devji, Shridev & Lim, Weng Marc & Prabhu, Nandan & Moodbidri, Sudhir, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and cost of capital: The moderating role of policy intervention," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    3. Peter Ansu-Mensah & Emmanuel Opoku Marfo & Lyon Salia Awuah & Kwame Oduro Amoako, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement in Ghana’s mining sector: a case study of Newmont Ahafo mines," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Cansu Perdeli Demirkan & Nicole M. Smith & H. Sebnem Duzgun & Aurora Waclawski, 2021. "A Data-Driven Approach to Evaluation of Sustainability Reporting Practices in Extractive Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-37, August.
    5. Soysa, R.N.K. & Pallegedara, Asankha & Ajantha, Sisira Kumara & Jayasena, D.M. & Samaranayake, M.K.S.M., 2023. "Developing a Sustainability Reporting Index using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Sri Lankan Business Firms," MPRA Paper 116098, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Weerathunga, P.R. & Xiaofang, Chen & Nurunnabi, Mohammad & Kulathunga, K.M.M.C.B. & Swarnapali, R.M.N.C., 2020. "Do the IFRS promote corporate social responsibility reporting? Evidence from IFRS convergence in India," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    7. Jeng-Bang Wang & Guan-Hua Wang & Chung-Ya Ou, 2023. "The Key Factors for Sustainability Reporting Adoption in the Semiconductor Industry Using the Hybrid FRST-PSO Technique and Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Ritika Gupta & Pankaj Kumar, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure: a study on NIFTY 100 companies," Global Business and Economics Review, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 27(4), pages 492-515.
    9. Gloria Fiorani & Chiara Di Gerio, 2022. "Reporting University Performance through the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda: Lessons Learned from Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.
    10. Parvez Alam Khan & Satirenjit Kaur Johl & Shakeb Akhtar, 2022. "Vinculum of Sustainable Development Goal Practices and Firms’ Financial Performance: A Moderation Role of Green Innovation," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-24, February.
    11. Mohd Shoeb & Aamir Aslam & Anam Aslam, 2022. "Environmental Accounting Disclosure Practices: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 226-239, July.

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