FAQs

How do I post a project?

After registering on the portal (for registration, click here) as a project promoter, you may click on floating icon (+) on the left side of page just below the header or click on add project. Further, you may add all relevant details corresponding to the project. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

What information should I include in my listing?

Information is divided into 4 major pillars to provide detailed and 360-degree view of the project-

• General Information: Project Name, associated sector/subsector, estimated project costs, project components etc.
• Location information: Map location and other related information
• Project Development: Type, status, milestone dates etc.
• Funding Requirements: Total project cost, investments raised, investments required, debt to equity split

Is project information verified by IIG once a promoter sends an upload request?

Once a promoter sends an upload request, the IIG team screens the project and gets back to the promoter for any gaps / corrections in the data. Once data is screened and corrected, the project is uploaded on the IIG portal.

After uploading the project, the project information is vetted by reputed third-party firms, empaneled by Invest India. The information is cross-checked for logical inconsistencies, data sanity and for updated information. The firms seek to verify information based on primary and secondary research. The vetting process is currently carried out by Ernst & Young and BDO Consulting.

While the data uploaded on to IIG is envisioned to be credible, IIG does not take any responsibility for errors or misrepresentations on the portal.

For more, see the Terms and Conditions

I am the promoter of a project not based in India - can I list on IIG?

No. Currently the portal only lists projects based out of India

Is it necessary to fill all fields or just the mandatory ones while posting?

Although filling only mandatory fields will list your project on the portal, we recommend you to fill entire information to generate maximum investor interest.

How will I know if someone has expressed interest in my project?

You will receive an email on your registered email id and also see the investor details on your dashboard.

What should I do to ensure my project gets maximum viewership and response?

Add complete information of the project while uploading it, update project status periodically and respond to queries in a timely manner.

How long do project listings stay after being listed on IIG?

Project listing will be available on portal till project promoter archives it. Moreover, it can also be taken down by IIG team.

Can I list multiple projects?

Yes. There is no limitation on the number of projects you can enlist.

Why am I unable to post projects?

Only companies based out of India and those who have registered on portal as promoter are allowed to post project on portal. For registration as promoter click here

Is there a minimum required amount on the projects I list?

No such minimum limit exists for uploading projects.

Can I be an investor as well as a promoter?

Yes, you can but only in case if you are a company registered in India. You can access your information pertaining to both the projects you listed as well as projects you expressed an interest in on the My Page section.

Can I view a list of all registered investors on the portal?

No. We take privacy of investors very seriously and do not provide any information of registered investors on our portal to anyone without their permission.

How can I contact an investor?

Being as a promoter you can view investors details only if they show interest in your project. No other type of contact is allowed from promoter side to investor from portal.

Is there are any restriction on the type of projects I can post?

No. Those projects which have requirements of capital or technology can be posted on portal.

Can I upload only partial information about a project?

Yes. However, you will need to add information about all the mandatory fields. We would recommend you upload all information there is for better visibility and interest generation of your project.

Can I edit my project details after posting it once?

Yes. You can edit certain fields of the project. For editing please go to My Page section after logging in.

Is there a limitation on the number of edits I can do on a project?

No. You can modify details as many times as possible. But editing of only those projects is allowed which have been uploaded by you. Projects uploaded by our team can only be edited by our permission.

How can I contact a project promoter?

You will receive an email on your registered email id with details of the project promoter after expressing an interest against the project on the portal.

How will I know if a promoter has made some updates to the project I am following?

Update of information of project in which interest is shown will be sent through email notification to investors.

Will I get promoter contact details after expressing interest on a certain project?

Yes. You will receive an email with contact details. The information will also reflect in your dashboard.

I am an international investor and don't have any India specific coordinates - can I still contact a promoter?

Yes. International investors can register on portal and can contact promotor by showing interest in projects.

Do I have to invest through this portal?

No. IIG is only a project discovery platform. All investment decisions are made outside the portal.

Are all projects listed on the portal verified and have the most updated information?

Project information uploaded by promoters is vetted by reputed third-party firms, empaneled by Invest India. The information is cross-checked for logical inconsistencies, data sanity and for updated information. The firms seek to verify information based on primary and secondary research. The vetting process is currently carried out by Ernst & Young and BDO Consulting.

While the data uploaded on to IIG is envisioned to be credible, IIG doesn't take any responsibility for errors or misrepresentations on the portal.

When will I get SMS alerts or email notifications?

When you perform one or the following actions:

• Login to the portal for the first time
• Reset your password
• Express/ Withdraw interest in a project
• Follow/Unfollow a project
• Upload a new project
• Project is updated
• Receive interest on a listed project
• Request to archive one of your listed projects

How are recommendations generated?

Recommendations are generated through our proprietary algorithm, which takes into account your past selections, preferences and behaviour of people with similar profile and portal navigation history.

Can I get contact details of all investors registered on IIG?

No. You can only view list of investors who have expressed interest in your project.

How do I respond to a query request?

By clicking on the link in the email you will receive on your registered email id when a query is generated.

Can I search for a project even if I don't know its exact name?

Yes. IIG portal allows key word search and suggests recommendations. Just go to explore page click here

Is my personal and project information secure with IIG?

Yes. IIG's portal is developed after incorporating latest industry standards with respect to digital data security. Also, it doesn't share any of your personal and project information without your consent.

Will IIG be sharing my personal information with anyone?

IIG respects your Right to Privacy. Your information will not be shared without your consent. For more, please read our Privacy Policy .

Can anyone else access my account?

No. Your account can be accessed only through your unique username and password combination.

Does IIG use cookies?

To serve you better, IIG tries to give you targeted and personalized information. For this, IIG uses cookies. You may disable cookies if you so wish. Please note that by not accepting cookies, you will limit the functionality that can be provided to you.

Who can fund in CSR opportunities?

Anyone can fund the CSR opportunities available on IIG. IIG is the project discovery platform that allows corporates to connect with the CSR project promoters. All further collaboration happens between the investor and the promoter.

From where are the CSR opportunities sourced?

All the opportunities are sourced from state governments and government backed agencies and institutions.

Are these CSR opportunities compliant with the government CSR mandate under the Companies Act, 2013?

All the CSR opportunities are sourced from government departments and government backed agencies and institutions and they have been defined under CSR mandates by respective authorities.

Can I monitor the projects that I fund?

IIG is a project discovery platform. Once you express interest in a project an email will be sent to you with the details of the relevant person to connect with. Investor can directly connect with the project owner and for any further information or help you can contact the Invest India point of contact as mentioned on the CSR project details page.

Do I have to invest through the portal?

No, IIG is only a project discovery platform. All investment decision are made outside this platform.

How can I connect with the person in charge?

Once you express interest in a project an email will be sent to you with the details of the relevant person to connect with.

Who are the people I will have to be in contact with for additional details?

You will be put in touch with the nodal officer in the state department as well as the manager on the project site.

In case of any issues or delays who can I reach out to?

A special point of contact will be assigned to you from Invest India who will ensure a smooth process through your entire investment cycle. The point of contact details is available on the CSR project details page.

Are all project on this website verified and updated?

All the projects have been procured from the state governments and government backed agencies and institutions. The projects have been verified by the respective departments, agencies and institutions.

I am looking for similar projects in a location closer to my office/factory, can you help with this?

You can use the location filters available on IIG to find projects of your interest. You may also contact Invest India that works closely with all states across India, so that they can help you identify such projects.

What is meaning of 'any financial year' mentioned in Section 135 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013?

"Any Financial year" referred under Sub- Section (1) of Section 135 of the Act read with Rule 3(2) of Companies CSR Rule, 2014 implies any of the three preceding financial years ( may refer General Circular No. 21/2014, dated: 18.06.2014)

Compliance under section 135 of the Act i.e. Corporate Social Responsibility, is applicable from which Financial Year?

The compliance of the provisions of CSR under the Companies Act, 2013 i.e. constitution of CSR Committee, formulation of CSR Policy, the spending of requisite amount on CSR activities came into force from April, 2014

Whether expenditure by Companies on activities covered under Schedule VII for the fulfillment of any Act/Statute of Regulations will count as CSR expenditure?

This would not count as CSR expenditure. (may refer point no. (iii) of General Circular No. 21/2014, dated: 18.06.2014)

Can the expenditure incurred towards personnel exclusively appointed by the companies for implementing the CSR activities of the company, be included in the expenditure earmarked for CSR activities?

Salary paid by the companies to regular CSR staff as well as employees, who render their services for CSR will be part of Administrative overheads and should not exceed 5% of the total CSR expenditure as per rule 4(6) of CSR Policy, Rules 2014.

Whether CSR expenditure of a company can be claimed as a business expenditure?

The amount spent by a company towards CSR cannot be claimed as business expenditure. The Finance Act, 2014 provides that any expenditure incurred by an assessee on the activities relating to corporate social responsibility referred to in section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 shall not be deemed to be an expenditure incurred by the assessee for the purposes of the business or profession.

Whether the 'average net profit' criteria for section 135(5) is Net profit before tax or Net profit after tax?

Computation of net profit for section 135 is as per section 198 of the Companies Act, 2013 which primarily is NET PROFIT BEFORE TAX.

Can the CSR expenditure be spent on the activities beyond Schedule VII?

General Circular No. 21/2014 dated June18, 2014 of MCA has clarified that the statutory provision and provisions of CSR Rules, 2014, is to ensure that while activities undertaken in pursuance of the CSR policy must be relatable to Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013. However, the entries in the said Schedule VII must be interpreted liberally so as to capture the essence of the subjects enumerated in the said Schedule. The items enlisted in the Schedule VII of the Act, are broad-based and are intended to cover a wide range of activities.

What tax benefits can be availed under CSR?

No specific tax exemptions have been extended to CSR expenditure per se. Finance Act, 2014 also clarifies that expenditure on CSR does not form part of business expenditure. While no specific tax exemption has been extended to expenditure incurred on CSR, spending on several activities like contributions to Prime Minister's Relief Fund, scientific research, rural development projects, skill development projects, agricultural extension projects, etc., which find place in Schedule VII, already enjoy exemptions under different sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Which activities would not qualify as CSR Expenditure?

• The CSR projects or programs or activities that benefit only the employees of the company and their families shall not be considered as CSR activities in accordance with section 135 of the Act.
• One-off events such as marathons/ awards/ charitable contribution/ advertisement/sponsorships of TV programmes etc. would not be qualified as part of CSR expenditure.
• Expenses incurred by companies for the fulfillment of any Act/ Statute of regulations (such as Labour Laws, Land Acquisition Act etc.) would not count as CSR expenditure under the Companies Act.
• Contribution of any amount directly or indirectly to any political party shall not be considered as a CSR activity.
• Activities undertaken by the company in pursuance of its normal course of business.

Will being a holding or subsidiary company of a company which fulfils the criteria under section 135(1) make the company liable to comply with section 135, even if the company itself fulfills the criteria

Being a holding or subsidiary company of a company which fulfils the criteria under section 135(1) doesn't make the company liable to comply with section 135, unless the company itself fulfills the criteria.

Can donation of money to a trust by a company be treated as CSR expenditure of the company?

General Circular No. 21/2014 of MCA dated June 18, 2014 clarifies that Contribution to Corpus of a Trust/ Society/ Section 8 companies etc. will qualify as CSR expenditure as long as :

• (a) the Trust/ Society/ Section 8 company etc. is created exclusively for undertaking CSR activities or
• (b) where the corpus is created exclusively for a purpose directly relatable to a subject covered in Schedule VII of the Act

There is no need to prepare director's report for Foreign company so whether it is mandatory for foreign Company also to give reporting of CSR activity

In case of a foreign company, the balance sheet filed under sub-clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 381 shall contain an Annexure regarding report on CSR.

Whether contribution to political party is considered as CSR activity?

Contribution of any amount directly or indirectly to any political party under section 182 of the Act, shall not be considered as CSR activity. (May refer Rule 4(7) of CSR Policy, Rules 2014).

Whether CSR projects or programmes for employee of the Company and their family will form part of CSR activity?

NO, The CSR projects or programs or activities that benefit only the employees of the company and their Families shall not be considered as CSR activities in accordance with section 135 of the Act'. (May refer Rule 4(5) of CSR Policy, Rules 2014).

Whether expenditure incurred on disaster relief qualifies for CSR or not?

Disaster relief can cover wide range of activities that can be appropriately shown under various items listed in Schedule VII. For example,

• (i) medical aid can be covered under 'promoting health care including preventive health care.'
• (ii) food supply can be covered under eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
• (iii) supply of clean water can be covered under 'sanitation and making available safe drinking water'. (May refer to annexure to General Circular dated 18.06.2014)

Whether contribution in kind is permissible as CSR or not?

Section 135 prescribes "....shall ensure that company spends....".The company has to spend the amount.