GCC CSR spending in India reached ₹3,661 crore in FY2024-25, a 6.4-fold increase over the past decade. Education and skill development dominate investments, while innovation receives only 4% of recent expenditure and funding remains concentrated in Tier-1 cities. The article examines these trends, the limits of expenditure-based reporting, and how CSR impact assessments, outcome tracking, and long-term evaluations can help companies understand their social impact.