CSR and sustainability reporting practices in India: an in-depth content analysis of top-listed companies
ISSN: 1747-1117
Article publication date: 7 December 2018
Issue publication date: 21 October 2019
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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Note: There is no potential conflict of interest in this research.
Citation
Aggarwal, P. and Singh, A.K. (2019), "CSR and sustainability reporting practices in India: an in-depth content analysis of top-listed companies", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 15 No. 8, pp. 1033-1053. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-03-2018-0078
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited