Assurance Service

ESG Data Assurance

Independent assurance of non-financial data under ISAE 3000 (Revised) and ISAE 3410 (GHG statements). We verify the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of your reported ESG metrics — from BRSR Core KPIs to GHG emissions, water, waste, safety, and governance indicators.

ISAE 3000
Sustainability Assurance
ISAE 3410
GHG Statement Assurance
49
BRSR Core KPIs
1,000
Companies Mandated
What We Assure

Data Categories Under Assurance

⚛

GHG Emissions

Scope 1 & 2 emissions data, emission factors, calculation methodologies, organisational boundaries, and year-on-year trends. ISAE 3410 specific standard for GHG statements.

💧

Water & Effluent

Water withdrawal, consumption, discharge, and recycling data. Source classification, quality parameters, and ZLD compliance metrics.

♻

Waste & Circularity

Hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation, disposal pathways, diversion rates, and EPR compliance data.

⚡

Energy

Energy consumption, renewable/non-renewable split, intensity metrics, and PAT scheme compliance data.

👥

Social KPIs

LTIFR, fatality data, gender diversity metrics, wage data, sexual harassment complaints, training hours, and employee wellbeing indicators.

💼

Governance

Board diversity, ESG committee effectiveness, anti-corruption metrics, stakeholder engagement data, and policy compliance indicators.

Assurance Levels

Limited vs Reasonable Assurance

Limited Assurance

Negative assurance: "Nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe the data is materially misstated." Primarily inquiry and analytical procedures. SEBI's initial mandate for BRSR Core. Suitable for companies in their first years of assurance.

Reasonable Assurance

Positive assurance: "The data is fairly stated in all material respects." Extensive testing, reperformance, and evidence examination. Higher-grade opinion. SEBI is phasing in reasonable assurance for select BRSR Core KPIs.

Process

Six-Step Assurance Process

1

Scoping & Independence

Engagement-specific conflict-of-interest review. Scope definition, fee proposal, engagement letter. Independence verified before any work begins.

2

Planning & Risk Assessment

Assessment plan, evidence requirements, materiality thresholds, team assignment. Tailored to your sector and data maturity.

3

Evidence Collection

Document review, data verification, calculation reperformance, evidence quality audit. Source data examination, not just reported figures.

4

Testing & Interviews

Management interviews, analytical procedures, site-level checks, stakeholder engagement review. Substantive and compliance testing.

5

Draft Findings

Preliminary findings shared, management responses documented, factual accuracy confirmed. No surprises in the final report.

6

Assurance Opinion

Formal assurance statement, management letter with recommendations, board presentation. Delivered in formats ready for regulatory filing.

Note: RSustain provides independent assurance where engagement-specific independence requirements are met. For BRSR Core assurance specifically, the final assurance provider is appointed directly by your company in accordance with SEBI requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

ESG Data Assurance FAQ

Is BRSR Core assurance mandatory?

Yes, for companies within SEBI's phased mandate. BRSR Core assurance is mandatory for the top 150 listed companies from FY 2023-24, expanding to top 500 (FY 2025-26) and top 1,000 (FY 2026-27) by market capitalisation. The assurance must be conducted by an independent practitioner under recognised assurance standards (ISAE 3000, ISAE 3410, or equivalent). The assurance opinion is published alongside the annual report.

Who can provide BRSR Core assurance?

SEBI has specified that BRSR Core assurance may be provided by (1) audit firms (CA firms), (2) companies providing assurance services, and (3) other bodies with relevant sustainability/ESG assurance competence. The assurance provider must be independent of the reporting entity. SEBI does not currently require a specific accreditation, but competence in ISAE 3000 (Revised) and relevant subject matter expertise is expected. RSustain provides both assurance readiness advisory and independent assurance where independence requirements are met.

What is ISAE 3000 and why does it matter?

ISAE 3000 (Revised) — International Standard on Assurance Engagements — is the global standard for assurance of non-financial information. It provides the framework for both limited and reasonable assurance engagements covering sustainability data. ISAE 3410 is the specific standard for GHG statement assurance. Using recognised standards ensures the assurance opinion is credible and accepted by regulators, investors, and rating agencies.

How should we prepare for ESG assurance?

Preparation should start 3-6 months before the assurance engagement. Key steps: (1) establish data collection processes with documented methodologies, (2) maintain source records and evidence trails for all reported KPIs, (3) implement internal review and sign-off procedures, (4) run our Pre-Assurance Validator to check for common errors, and (5) prepare a management representation letter. Companies engaging in assurance for the first time should consider our BRSR Core Assurance Sprint programme.

What is the difference between ESG assurance and financial audit?

Financial audits verify financial statements under ISA standards with well-established accounting frameworks (Ind AS). ESG assurance verifies non-financial data under ISAE 3000/3410 — but ESG data often lacks the standardised measurement frameworks of financial accounting. ESG data comes from diverse sources (EHS systems, HR databases, utility meters, manual registers), uses varied calculation methodologies, and has weaker internal controls. This makes ESG assurance more complex and emphasises the importance of documented methodologies and evidence trails.

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