Business and social development were earlier considered to be parallel lines which cannot meet. Today, corporate houses are expected to invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, global development and environmental conservation. Evaluate this trend by taking up the example of one foreign multinational company and one leading Indian company. Do you think companies have a vested interest while engaging in CSR activities? Give reasons to support your views.

The Economist magazine did a special issue on CSR few years ago. Maybe you can find it in the library. They argued that CSR is just a form of PR for companies, and social development should be done by governments.