Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 27
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure in Nagaland has recorded a gradual increase over the last five financial years, though the State continues to account for a very small share of national CSR spending, according to official data from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and disclosures available on the CSR portal (csr.gov.in).
Data placed before Parliament shows that CSR expenditure in Nagaland stood at Rs 5.10 crore in FY 2019–20, declined to Rs 3.57 crore in FY 2020–21 during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and subsequently rose to Rs 12.46 crore in FY 2021–22, Rs 13.57 crore in FY 2022–23, and Rs 15.41 crore in FY 2023–24.
Among the northeastern States in FY 2023–24, Assam reported the highest CSR expenditure at Rs 488.62 crore, followed by Manipur at Rs 83.19 crore, Sikkim at Rs 41.87 crore, Arunachal Pradesh at Rs 39.57 crore, and Meghalaya at Rs 30.94 crore.
Only Tripura at Rs 9.45 crore and Mizoram at Rs 4.48 crore had lower CSR inflow than Nagaland.
In comparison, total CSR expenditure reported across India in FY 2023–24 amounted to Rs 34,908.75 crore.
Nagaland’s share of Rs 15.41 crore or approximately 0.04% of the total CSR expenditure placed it among the lowest recipient States and Union Territories.
District-sector distribution
Data available on the CSR geographical distribution dashboard shows that CSR projects in Nagaland during FY 2023–24 were implemented across eight districts. Kohima accounted for the highest reported CSR expenditure at Rs 7.12 crore, followed by Tuensang with Rs 3.01 crore and Mon with Rs 1.87 crore.
The remaining CSR expenditure was distributed across other districts, including Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Niuland and Phek.
Sector-wise disclosures on the CSR portal show that CSR expenditure in Nagaland during FY 2023–24 was highest in the ‘Health, Eradicating Hunger, Poverty and Malnutrition, Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation’ sector at Rs 5.84 crore, followed by ‘Encouraging Sports’ at Rs 4 crore.
This was followed by ‘Education, Differently Abled and Livelihood’ at Rs 2.67 crore, ‘Rural Development’ at Rs 2.15 crore, ‘Environment, Animal Welfare and Conservation of Resources’ at Rs 0.69 crore, and ‘Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Old Age Homes and Reducing Inequalities’ at Rs 0.06 crore.
A turning point?
Incidentally, CSR spending in Kiphire, the Aspirational District in Nagaland, is shown as zero from FY 2019–20 to FY 2023–24 on the CSR portal.
However, Union Finance Minister and Minister of Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, during her visit to Kiphire in November 2025, ceremonially handed over several CSR initiatives. She also noted that each time she visits the State, a substantial CSR support is brought to Nagaland.
At another event in Dimapur, Sitharaman maintained that the 2022 CSR Conclave in Nagaland proved to be a turning point, with many companies, some with no manufacturing units or service centres, being persuaded to participate and consider the State as a destination for meaningful initiatives.
Since the conclave, CSR inflow into Nagaland has increased and become more aligned with local needs, she added.
Meanwhile, in the parliament, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs clarified that CSR is a board-driven process under the Companies Act and the Government does not direct companies to spend in specific states or sectors.
Figures for FY 2024–25 are yet to be fully consolidated, as companies were permitted to complete their CSR-related filings up to December 31, 2025, it added.
