BRSR & ESG FAQ: 50+ Questions Answered

BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting) is India's mandatory ESG disclosure framework by SEBI. It requires the top 1,000 listed companies to report on environmental, social, and governance metrics using a standardised format of approximately 216 questions across 9 principles.

BRSR stands for Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting. It was introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in May 2021 to replace the earlier Business Responsibility Report (BRR).

BRSR was introduced by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) through circular SEBI/HO/CFD/CMD-2/P/CIR/2021/562 dated 10 May 2021. The framework was developed based on recommendations from the Committee on Business Responsibility Reporting.

Yes. BRSR is mandatory for the top 1,000 listed companies by market capitalisation on BSE and NSE from FY 2022-23 onwards. Companies outside the top 1,000 may file voluntarily.

The top 1,000 listed entities by market capitalisation on BSE and NSE must file BRSR. Market capitalisation is determined as on 31 March of the preceding financial year. Both BSE and NSE publish the list of applicable companies.

BRSR was notified by SEBI in May 2021. It was voluntary for FY 2021-22 and became mandatory for the top 1,000 listed companies from FY 2022-23.

BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting) replaced the earlier BRR (Business Responsibility Report). BRSR is significantly more comprehensive, with quantitative indicators, value chain disclosures, and alignment with global ESG frameworks.

BRSR follows a three-section format: Section A (General Disclosures about the company), Section B (Management and Process Disclosures covering governance and policies), and Section C (Principle-Wise Performance with Essential and Leadership indicators across 9 NGRBC principles).

The BRSR format contains approximately 216 disclosure questions. These are split across Essential Indicators (mandatory) and Leadership Indicators (voluntary but increasingly expected by investors and rating agencies).

The 9 BRSR principles are based on the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC): P1 Ethics and Transparency, P2 Products and Services, P3 Employee Wellbeing, P4 Stakeholder Engagement, P5 Human Rights, P6 Environment, P7 Policy Advocacy, P8 Inclusive Growth, P9 Consumer Responsibility.

Essential Indicators are mandatory disclosures that all applicable companies must report. Leadership Indicators are voluntary but demonstrate higher maturity and commitment. Many investors and ESG rating agencies evaluate both. Reporting Leadership Indicators can improve your ESG scores and investor perception.

BRSR Core is a subset of key ESG indicators from the full BRSR framework that must undergo independent assurance. Introduced by SEBI in July 2023, it covers approximately 9 key performance indicators across environment, social, and governance dimensions.

BRSR is the complete ESG disclosure framework (216 questions). BRSR Core is a focused subset of key indicators that require independent third-party assurance. You must file the full BRSR, but only BRSR Core indicators need to be assured.

BRSR Core assurance is phased: top 150 companies from FY 2023-24, top 250 from FY 2024-25, top 500 from FY 2025-26, and top 1,000 expected from FY 2026-27.

BRSR Core assurance must follow recognised standards such as ISAE 3000 (Revised), ISAE 3410, AA1000 Assurance Standard, or equivalent. The assurance provider must be independent of the reporting entity.

Limited assurance provides a moderate level of confidence that the data is free from material misstatement — the assurer states nothing came to their attention. Reasonable assurance provides a higher level of confidence with more extensive testing — the assurer gives a positive opinion. SEBI is phasing in reasonable assurance for top companies.

BRSR Core assurance can be provided by independent assurance providers who follow recognised standards (ISAE 3000, AA1000AS, etc.). This includes licensed assurance providers, chartered accountant firms with ESG assurance capabilities, and specialised sustainability assurance firms.

BRSR must be included in the company's Annual Report, which is filed with stock exchanges. For FY 2025-26, the Annual Report is typically due by September 2026 (within 6 months of financial year end).

BRSR is included in the company's Annual Report filed with BSE and NSE. Additionally, BRSR data must be filed in XBRL format on the BSE Listing Centre.

Non-compliance is flagged by stock exchanges (BSE/NSE). While explicit monetary penalties have not been specified, consequences include adverse ESG ratings, reduced investor confidence, potential regulatory scrutiny, exclusion from ESG indices, and impact on green finance eligibility.

Yes. BSE requires BRSR data to be filed electronically in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format through the BSE Listing Centre. RSustain India's BRSR XBRL Filing tool helps convert data to compliant iXBRL.

Costs vary by company size and readiness: basic BRSR filing support typically costs INR 3-8 lakh, while BRSR Core assurance ranges from INR 8-25 lakh. Companies with poor data systems may need additional investment in data infrastructure. RSustain India offers a structured 12-week Assurance Sprint starting at INR 8 lakh.

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance — three pillars used to evaluate a company's sustainability and ethical impact. In India, ESG reporting is primarily governed through the BRSR framework mandated by SEBI for listed companies.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is the primary regulator for ESG disclosures by listed companies in India. SEBI mandated the BRSR framework, introduced BRSR Core for assurance, regulates ESG rating providers, and oversees green bond frameworks.

ESG ratings evaluate a company's ESG performance and risk. In India, ESG rating providers are regulated by SEBI (from July 2023). Major providers include CRISIL, ICRA, S&P Global, MSCI, and Sustainalytics. ESG ratings influence investor decisions, fund flows, and index inclusion.

Green finance in India encompasses ESG-linked loans, green bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, and green deposits. RBI has issued guidelines on green deposits and green lending classification. SEBI regulates green bonds. India's green bond market has crossed USD 25 billion.

Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013 mandates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for companies with net worth above INR 500 crore, turnover above INR 1,000 crore, or net profit above INR 5 crore. These companies must spend at least 2% of average net profits on CSR activities.

Scope 1 covers direct GHG emissions from owned/controlled sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions in the value chain (supply chain, logistics, business travel, etc.). BRSR requires Scope 1 and 2 reporting; Scope 3 is a Leadership indicator.

CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) is the EU's carbon border tax on imports of carbon-intensive goods including steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity. Indian exporters to the EU must report embedded emissions and may face carbon duties. Use our CBAM Duty Calculator to estimate the impact.

India has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070, announced at COP26 in Glasgow (2021). Intermediate targets include 50% electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and reducing carbon intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).

A carbon credit represents one tonne of CO2 equivalent removed or avoided. India has launched the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) under the Energy Conservation Act. The Indian Carbon Market will have both compliance and voluntary segments.

Science Based Targets are emission reduction targets aligned with climate science to limit global warming to 1.5C or well below 2C. Over 100 Indian companies have committed to SBTi. Use our SBTi Pathway Modeller to plan your targets.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is a policy approach requiring producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. In India, EPR applies to plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, tyre waste, and used oil. EPR obligations are registered through the CPCB portal.

EIA is a process to evaluate the environmental consequences of proposed projects before granting environmental clearance. In India, EIA is governed by the EIA Notification 2006 under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Projects are categorised as Category A (central clearance) or Category B (state clearance).

ZLD is a treatment process that recovers virtually all water from industrial wastewater, leaving only solid residue. CPCB mandates ZLD for several highly polluting industries in India including textiles, distilleries, and tanneries. Use our WaterBalance Pro tool for ZLD planning.

RSustain India (Resilient Sustainance Private Limited) is India's leading BRSR and ESG advisory firm. We provide BRSR compliance services, ESG assurance (AA1000, ISAE 3000), carbon management, environmental consulting, and 55+ free digital ESG tools for Indian listed companies.

Yes. RSustain India is an AA1000 Licensed Assurance Provider and conducts BRSR Core assurance, ESG report assurance, and GHG verification using ISAE 3000, ISAE 3410, and AA1000 Assurance Standard.

RSustain India offers 55+ free digital ESG tools covering BRSR readiness assessment, GHG emissions tracking, water and waste management, CBAM duty calculation, CSR compliance, ESG policy templates, biodiversity assessment, and more. All tools are available at india.rsustain.com.