…The new Companies Bill in India…fails to focus on addressing core business impacts as set out by guidelines developed by the government itself, and the state’s duties in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights…The stark truth is that human rights abuses such as sub-par working conditions, sexual harassment, bonded labour and child labour as well as violations linked to land acquisition, water pollution, abusive security forces and unsafe clinical trials etc. – require the state to do more than mandate corporate philanthropy….It is time to take action…mainstreaming responsible business practices and fulfilling state duties – both of which have been ignored in debates around the new Companies Bill. Business leaders can be incentivized to behave responsibly, but human rights and respect for the rule of law in the economic sphere won’t be assured without an effective and accountable State.