On December 31, 2024, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”), notified a gazette notification vide Notification No. G.S.R. 794(E)[1] dated December 31, 2024, regarding the second amendment of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as “Rules”). The Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 128(1) and (3), Section 129(3), Section 133, Section 134, Section 135(4), Section 136(1), Section 137 and Section 138 read with Section 469 of the Companies Act, 2013 (“Act”), amends the said Rules, which shall be enforceable with immediate effect.
The amendments to the Rules extend the deadline for filing the Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) report under Form CSR-2 for the financial year 2023-2024. Rule 12 of the said Rules outlines the requirement of each company to file the financial statements with the registrar along with Form AOC-4 and the consolidated financial statement, if any, with Form AOC-4 CFS. Additionally, Rule 12(1B) of the Rules mandates the companies covered under the provisions of Section 135(1) of the Act, to file a CSR report under Form No. CSR-2 to the Registrar for the relevant financial year, as an addendum to Form AOC-4.
Initially, the deadline for filing Form No. CSR-2 for the financial year 2023-2024 under the Rules was set for December 31, 2024. However, the amendment now extends the deadline and allows companies to submit their CSR reports under Form No. CSR-2 on or before March 31, 2025, after filing of Form No. AOC-4 or AOC-4 NBFC (Ind-AS) or AOC-4 XBRL, as the case may be.
[1]https://www.mca.gov.in/bin/dms/getdocument?mds=WI9iQVs0nG17ber8nQ6EeA%253D%253D&type=open