Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is concerned with treating the stakeholders of the organization ethically or in a socially responsible manner. CSR, if implemented in its true spirit, helps in enhancing the quality of life of the stakeholders and the society at large. LIC, having recognized the importance of CSR, has undertaken a number of programs to satisfy their stakeholders. Further, it has introduced various social security schemes such as Janashree Bima Yojana, Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana, Siksha Sahayog Yojana, etc., to uplift the poor and downtrodden. Apart from this, it invests a huge amount of funds in various social and developmental activities. Against this background, an attempt has been made to assess the various Corporate Social Responsibilities undertaken by LIC.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not a newfangled buzzword. An organization's influence over employees, customers, partners, shareholders, the community and the environment cannot be overstated.

CSR, on a larger plane, represents the goodwill a company can generate through various sustained external initiatives and programs that have a positive impact on society. The activities and programs of CSR are now quite an integral part of organizational objectives due to the fact that the survival, long-term viability and growth of organizations, to a large extent, depend upon how well it integrates ethical and social issues with other aspects of business. Hence, organizations are moving towards exhibiting their true corporate citizenship through the `triple bottom line concept'. The triple bottom line concept represents the idea that businesses should account for their performance on economic, environmental and social criteria and attempt to satisfy their stakeholders on all three sets of criteria.CSR is concerned with treating the stakeholders of a firm ethically or in a socially responsible manner. Stakeholders exist both within a firm and outside. Consequently, behaving in a socially responsible manner will increase the stakeholder value both within and outside the organization.

Insurance Chronicle Magazine, Life Insurance Corporation of India, LIC, Stakeholders, Varishta Pension Bima Yojana, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, Organization Ethics, Social Security Schemes, Integrated Rural Development Program, IRDP.