Challenges and Opportunities in Assurance of Sustainability Reports in India

Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainable development has significantly transformed corporate reporting practices across the globe. In India, regulatory initiatives such as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework have accelerated the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures among listed companies. However, the reliability and credibility of such disclosures remain a major concern due to their non-financial and often qualitative nature. This has led to an increasing demand for independent assurance of sustainability reports.
This research paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability assurance in India. Using a descriptive and exploratory research design based on secondary data, the study identifies key barriers such as lack of standardization, limited professional expertise, measurement complexities, and regulatory ambiguities. Simultaneously, it highlights emerging opportunities including expansion of audit services, technological advancements, regulatory support, and growing investor demand. The study concludes that sustainability assurance holds immense potential in strengthening corporate accountability and transparency, provided appropriate frameworks and capacity-building measures are implemented.