Archive · 20 Sep 2026
ICAI Develops Sustainability Assurance Standards for Indian Companies
India’s accounting body is creating rules for checking companies’ sustainability reports.
These reports explain how businesses affect the environment, society, and governance.
The new rules are meant to make the reports more trustworthy and easier to compare.
They were developed with India’s market regulator, SEBI.
SEBI requires the 1,000 biggest listed companies to publish sustainability information.
More companies may also choose to use the reporting framework voluntarily.
This means companies may need more trained professionals who can check these reports.
ICAI is also preparing guidance and training related to the reporting process.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is developing standards for assuring corporate sustainability reports.
The standards aim to create a consistent approach and strengthen the credibility and transparency of environmental, social and governance reporting.
The standards were developed in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Board of India and approved by the ICAI Central Council.
SEBI requires the 1,000 largest listed companies by market capitalization to publish sustainability data under the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting framework.
ICAI is also preparing guidance for BRSR reports and has launched related certificate courses for its members.
- Who
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, is developing the standards; Pramod Jain described the initiative.
- What
- ICAI is working on Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000 and related guidance for sustainability and BRSR reporting.
- When
- The draft exposure for SSA 5000 was issued in June, and the standards were recently approved by the ICAI Central Council.
- Where
- The initiative applies to sustainability reporting by companies in India.
- Why
- The standards are intended to improve consistency, credibility, and transparency in ESG reporting and support the growing need for qualified assurance professionals.
- Standards body
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- Market regulator
- Securities and Exchange Board of India
- Standard
- Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000
- Reporting framework
- Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting
- Companies covered
- The 1,000 largest listed companies by market capitalization
- Approval
- Approved by the ICAI Central Council
- Additional work
- ICAI is developing BRSR preparation guidance and offers certificate courses for members