Legal Reforms And Economic Growth: Strengthening India’s Business Environment Through Effective Legislation
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 4
- 1 min read
Gunjan Grover, Chirayu Sharma & Sufiyan Abbasi, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University
ABSTRACT
The concept of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has rapidly transformed corporate law and practice in India. This article examines India’s evolving ESG regulatory framework and identifies critical gaps. Drawing on primary sources – from the Companies Act 2013 (CSR provisions) to recent SEBI and MCA regulations – zqand authoritative scholarship, it analyzes how India has tried to integrate ESG through sectoral laws. The paper reviews SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) regime and corporate governance rules, Environment Protection and labour laws, and the new Digital Personal Data Protection Act. It highlights a landmark Supreme Court ruling (2025) declaring environmental protection a core component of CSR. Comparative analysis with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, IFRS S1/S2 (ISSB Standards), UK Sustainability Standards, Singapore’s SGX requirements, and the US SEC’s climate rule identifies best practices and timing. Key challenges in India include fragmented obligations, risk of greenwashing, SME compliance, assurance and data issues. We recommend policy reforms toward a coherent ESG statute or unified regime, stronger enforcement (e.g. mandatory assurance), and guidance for smaller firms. Tables summarize and compare reporting requirements, timelines and assurance norms across regimes, and a timeline chart traces major regulatory milestones. This analytical study underscores the need for a consolidated legislative framework to improve clarity, accountability, and international alignment in India’s ESG agenda.
Keywords: ESG reporting, India, Companies Act 2013, SEBI BRSR, CSR, Sustainability Standards, CSRD, IFRS S1, Corporate Governance.
