From CSR To ESG: The Climate Crisis And Indian Corporate Law
- IJLLR Journal
- Nov 4
- 1 min read
Dev Gupta, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), Delhi Metropolitan Education Affiliated With GGSIPU
ABSTRACT
The transition from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks represents a paradigm shift in Indian corporate law and policy, driven by the escalating climate crisis and global sustainability imperatives. While CSR, codified under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, institutionalized corporate philanthropy through mandatory social spending, it remained limited in addressing systemic environmental and governance challenges. ESG, by contrast, embeds sustainability within the core of corporate strategy, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation. This paper examines the evolution of CSR into ESG in the Indian context, analyzing regulatory developments such as SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework and their alignment with international standards like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Reporting Initiative. Through a study of landmark judicial pronouncements and recent policy reforms, the paper highlights how Indian corporate law is adapting to integrate climate-conscious governance. It concludes that while India has made significant progress toward embedding ESG principles, achieving meaningful impact requires consolidated legislation, standardized reporting mechanisms, and a shift from compliance- based to impact-oriented corporate conduct.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Social Governance, Companies Act 2013, SEBI, BRSR, Climate Crisis, Corporate Law, Sustainability.
