What central idea does the writer communicate about CSR in the present business era? Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has steadily shifted from being a side activity of charity to a core expectation within today’s business environment. Companies now recognise that their obligations extend beyond investors to employees, customers, local communities, and ecological well-being. This change is rooted in the understanding that sustainable profits and long-term stability depend on ethical behaviour and inclusive development. CSR is no longer confined to symbolic giving; it involves planned efforts such as protecting the environment, ensuring fair labour standards, practising transparent governance, and contributing to community upliftment. Organisations may, for example, support tree-plantation programmes, sponsor education, guarantee just compensation, or channel funds into clean-energy solutions. These actions are not purely selfless—they strengthen brand credibility, encourage customer trust, and reduce regulatory uncertainty. In countries such as India, CSR has even taken a legal form, requiring eligible firms to allocate a portion of profits toward social initiatives, thereby formalising responsible capitalism. Still, meaningful CSR differs sharply from surface-level image management. Cosmetic CSR—where firms perform one-off acts mainly to enhance publicity—may backfire when examined closely, revealing moral gaps. By contrast, mission-led CSR integrated into business planning can spur innovation and widen market access, especially in neglected areas. Moreover, stakeholders, particularly socially alert millennials and Gen Z, monitor corporate conduct more intensely than ever. With social platforms amplifying scrutiny, any mismatch between stated principles and real actions can trigger immediate reputational harm. Hence, CSR today functions both as value creation and as risk control. Ultimately, the strongest CSR initiatives are those that connect business goals with social progress, narrowing the distance between profit-making and public good.

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1. The passage says CSR moved from charity to a core expectation in business.
2. It lists planned actions (environment, fair labour, governance) as part of business planning.
3. It says CSR strengthens brand, cuts risk, and is even law in some places.
4. Therefore CSR is described as a fundamental part of corporate planning.
FINAL_ANSWER: c

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