8 Sectors | 11 SASB Categories | India-Specific Playbooks

Sector-Specific ESG Intelligence for Indian Industries

Generic ESG frameworks miss what matters. Each Indian industry faces different materiality priorities, different regulators, different data gaps, and different BRSR Core scrutiny points. Our sector playbooks provide the specificity that compliance officers, CFOs, and ESG teams actually need.

8Deep Playbooks
49BRSR Core KPIs
FY 2026-27Assurance Ready
11SASB Sectors Licensed

FY 2026-27: Assurance Expands to Top 1,000 Companies

SEBI mandates third-party assessment or assurance of BRSR Core for all top 1,000 listed companies from FY 2026-27. EU CBAM is live for steel, cement, aluminium, and fertiliser exporters. Every sector faces different compliance pressure points. Our playbooks map exactly what's material for your industry.

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Industry Playbooks

Deep Playbooks for 8 Indian Industries

Each playbook covers sector-specific materiality, BRSR principle mapping, peer benchmarks, regulatory requirements, and recommended tools.

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IT / BPO

Data Centre & Digital

India's IT sector accounts for 7.5% of GDP with 80%+ of carbon footprint in Scope 3. Data centre energy demand is projected to reach 9 GW by 2030. E-waste EPR compliance, employee commute emissions, and work-from-home energy disclosure are emerging challenges unique to this sector.

9 GWDC capacity by 2030
3%of India's power demand
1.7M MTannual e-waste
80%+footprint in Scope 3
BRSR Priority Principles P3 Employee Wellbeing P6 Environment — Scope 2/3, E-Waste
Key Regulations BEE PAT E-Waste EPR SEBI BRSR Core
Recommended Tools BRSR Compass Pre-Assurance Validator Policy Templates
View IT/BPO Playbook →
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BFSI

Banking & Financial Services

Financed emissions dwarf operational footprints — banks must now measure and disclose the climate impact of their entire loan book. RBI's 2024 climate risk framework, green deposit reporting, and ESG fund disclosure rules are reshaping BFSI reporting. BRSR Principle 7 (policy advocacy) and Principle 2 (responsible lending) are uniquely material.

₹2.5L Crgreen lending target
RBI 2024climate disclosure
1,000+banks under BRSR
$55.9Bgreen debt pipeline
BRSR Priority Principles P2 Products & Services P7 Policy Advocacy
Key Regulations RBI Green Deposits SEBI ESG Fund Rules BRSR Core
Recommended Tools Pre-Assurance Validator AA1000 Assurance ESG Compliance Calendar
View BFSI Playbook →
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Pharmaceuticals

Pharma & Life Sciences

India's $65B pharma industry — 3rd largest by volume globally — faces intense CPCB scrutiny across 500+ API clusters. Clinical waste, API effluent discharge, water stewardship, and access to medicine metrics are the defining ESG challenges. Zero Liquid Discharge is now mandatory for dye and API manufacturing units.

$65Bindustry size
3rdlargest globally
500+API clusters (CPCB)
ZLDmandatory for API
BRSR Priority Principles P6 Environment — Water, Waste P8 CSR — Access to Medicine
Key Regulations CPCB ZLD Hazardous Waste Rules Bio-Medical Waste Rules
Recommended Tools BRSR Compass Pre-Assurance Validator ESG Compliance Calendar
View Pharma Playbook →
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Manufacturing

Industrial & Discrete

Contributing ~25% of India's GDP, manufacturing faces the densest ESG regulatory web — energy intensity under PAT, EPR for plastics/e-waste/tyres/batteries, LTIFR as a BRSR Core KPI under assurance, and industrial effluent discharge. Circular economy waste reduction and worker safety are the battlegrounds.

~25%of India's GDP
1,000+PAT scheme units
EPRplastics, e-waste, tyres
LTIFRnow BRSR Core KPI
BRSR Priority Principles P3 Employee Safety — LTIFR P6 Environment — Energy, Waste
Key Regulations BEE PAT EPR Rules Factories Act BRSR Core
Recommended Tools Pre-Assurance Validator BRSR Report Generator AA1000 Assurance
View Manufacturing Playbook →
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Steel & Cement

Hard-to-Abate Sectors

Responsible for 7% of India's CO₂ emissions, these hard-to-abate sectors face the most granular Scope 1 scrutiny under BRSR Core assurance. EU CBAM is live from 2026, directly impacting exporters. Green hydrogen pilots are underway at 5 major players. 300 MT steel capacity target by 2030 demands energy transition pathways.

7%of India's CO₂
CBAMlive from 2026
300 MTsteel target 2030
5green H₂ pilots
BRSR Priority Principles P6 Environment — GHG, Energy, Water
Key Regulations EU CBAM India CCTS BEE PAT BRSR Core Assurance
Recommended Tools Pre-Assurance Validator BRSR XBRL Filing AA1000 Assurance
View Steel & Cement Playbook →
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Textiles & Apparel

Fashion & Fibre

Projected to reach $165B by 2030, India's textile industry is the 2nd largest employer. ZDHC compliance is demanded by 100+ global brands. Dyeing effluent, chemical management, fair wages across fragmented supply chains, and EU CSDDD forced labour screening define the ESG landscape. Tier-2/3 suppliers are now in BRSR value chain scope.

$165Bindustry by 2030
2ndlargest employer
100+brands need ZDHC
Tier-2/3in BRSR scope
BRSR Priority Principles P5 Human Rights P6 Environment — Water Pollution
Key Regulations EU CSDDD CPCB ZLD BRSR Value Chain EPR Textiles
Recommended Tools Supplier ESG Portal Pre-Assurance Validator Policy Templates
View Textiles Playbook →
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Real Estate

Construction & Infrastructure

Buildings account for 40% of India's energy use, with 150M tonnes of C&D waste generated annually. Embodied carbon in construction materials is rising in BRSR disclosures. IGBC/GRIHA ratings are now lender-preferred. RERA-mandated projects face additional environmental compliance layers. Community impact under Principle 8 is critical.

40%of India's energy use
150M MTC&D waste/year
IGBClender preferred
Embodied Cin BRSR
BRSR Priority Principles P6 Environment — C&D Waste, Embodied Carbon P8 Community
Key Regulations C&D Waste Rules 2016 RERA GRIHA/IGBC BRSR Core
Recommended Tools BRSR Compass ESG Compliance Calendar AA1000 Assurance
View Real Estate Playbook →

Energy & Utilities

Power & Resources

India's energy sector is in historic transition — 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030, 50% of capacity already non-fossil. OGMP 2.0 methane reporting for oil & gas, just transition planning for coal-dependent communities, RPO compliance, and ₹9.15 Lakh Cr in grid investment by 2032. Principle 4 (stakeholder engagement) matters for community-impacting projects.

500 GWnon-fossil by 2030
50%already non-fossil
OGMPmethane reporting
₹9.15L Crgrid investment
BRSR Priority Principles P4 Stakeholder Engagement P6 Environment — GHG, Energy
Key Regulations RPO/REC India CCTS BEE PAT BRSR Core Assurance
Recommended Tools Pre-Assurance Validator BRSR Report Generator Green Finance Advisory
View Energy Playbook →
Playbook Contents

What You Get in a Sector Playbook

Each playbook is tailored to your specific sector — not a generic ESG template.

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Sector Materiality Matrix

The 8-12 ESG topics that actually matter for your sector, ranked by impact and stakeholder concern. Not the 140+ generic BRSR parameters.

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BRSR Principle Mapping

Which of the 9 BRSR principles and 49 KPIs are most material for your sector. Focus your reporting on what assurance providers will scrutinise.

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Peer Benchmark Analysis

How your ESG performance compares to sector peers in India and global best-in-class. Quartile positioning on key metrics.

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Regulatory Compliance Roadmap

Sector-specific regulations (PAT, CCTS, ZLD, RPO, CPCB, EPR, CBAM) mapped to timelines, penalties, and compliance actions.

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Data Collection Framework

What data you need, from which systems, in what format. Mapped to BRSR disclosure requirements and assurance evidence needs.

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90-Day Action Plan

Prioritised actions, responsible owners, KPIs, and timelines. Not a strategy deck — a working plan your ESG team can execute.

Tool Selector

Which Tools for Your Sector?

Our free and paid tools are designed to work together. Here's what's most relevant for each industry.

Tool IT/BPO BFSI Pharma Mfg Steel Textiles Real Est Energy
BRSR Compass
Pre-Assurance Validator
ESG Compliance Calendar
Policy Templates
BRSR Report Generator
BRSR XBRL Filing
Supplier ESG Portal
AA1000 Assurance
Green School Rating
RSustain Matrix
Highly Relevant Relevant for some companies
Our Approach

Our Sector Approach — Materiality First

We don't apply a one-size-fits-all ESG framework. Every engagement begins with sector-specific materiality analysis.

1

Sector Materiality Mapping

Identify the 8-12 ESG topics that actually matter for your sector, using SASB, GRI sector standards, and India-specific regulatory context. Not the 140+ generic BRSR parameters.

2

Peer Benchmarking

Compare your ESG performance against sector peers in India and global best-in-class. CRISIL ESG scores, Sustainalytics ratings, and BRSR disclosure quality.

3

Regulatory Deep-Dive

Map sector-specific regulations (PAT, CCTS, ZLD, RPO, CPCB, EPR, CBAM, POSH, CSR-2) to your compliance roadmap with deadlines and penalties.

4

Tailored Playbook Delivery

Deliver a sector-specific ESG playbook with prioritised 90-day action plan, data collection framework, BRSR mapping, and assurance preparation guide.

Get Your Sector Playbook

Book a sector consultation. We'll map your company's ESG materiality profile, benchmark you against peers, and build a tailored compliance roadmap.

Ready to start your ESG journey?

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our advisory team.