Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as one of the most significant corporate financing mechanisms for promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development in India. Following the implementation of the Companies Act, 2013, eligible Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and private companies have substantially increased their investments in education, healthcare, sanitation, rural infrastructure, livelihood generation, environmental conservation, and women empowerment. Despite considerable CSR expenditure, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the comparative effectiveness of CSR financing practices adopted by PSUs and private companies in addressing rural developmental challenges. This study aims to examine the differences in CSR financing strategies, implementation efficiency, stakeholder participation, transparency, and developmental outcomes between selected PSUs and private companies operating in India.

The study adopts a quantitative research design using primary data collected from CSR managers, village development committee members, local government officials, and beneficiaries. A structured questionnaire is administered to 350 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to examine the relationships among CSR financing, governance practices, stakeholder participation, project implementation efficiency, and rural development outcomes.