An Indian ESG assurance engagement covers BRSR Core, not the whole BRSR. BRSR Core is the subset of assurable key performance indicators grouped under nine ESG attributes, introduced by SEBI circular of 12 July 2023. Reasonable assurance phases in by market capitalisation rank, reaching the top 1,000 listed entities from FY 2026-27.
The wider Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report carries a much larger set of disclosure indicators, split between essential and leadership indicators across three sections. Assurance does not extend across all of it. Only BRSR Core is assured, which is the first thing to establish when scoping an engagement.
The nine ESG attributes
1. Greenhouse gas footprint 2. Water footprint 3. Energy footprint 4. Embracing circularity, covering waste management 5. Enhancing employee wellbeing and safety 6. Enabling gender diversity in business 7. Enabling inclusive development 8. Fairness in engaging with customers and suppliers 9. Openness of business
Additional indicators identified for assurance reflect the Indian context, including job creation in small towns, gross wages paid to women as a percentage of total wages, and spending on related parties.
Who is inside, and when
| Market capitalisation rank | Reasonable assurance from |
|---|---|
| Top 150 | FY 2023-24 |
| Top 250 | FY 2024-25 |
| Top 500 | FY 2025-26 |
| Top 1,000 | FY 2026-27 |
The glide path is by market capitalisation rank tied to financial years. It is not a turnover threshold, and the figure 250 in this context refers to the top 250 listed entities by market capitalisation.
Two scope details that change the work
Intensity ratios in BRSR Core use revenue adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity, which means the denominator is not the figure sitting in the financial statements and has to be derived.
Value chain ESG disclosure is a separate layer. Since the circular of 28 March 2025 the identifying test is partners individually comprising 2 per cent or more of purchases or sales by value, and both the disclosure and its assessment or assurance are voluntary rather than comply-or-explain.
Sources: SEBI BRSR Core framework circular, 12 July 2023, SEBI circular, 28 March 2025
Scoping an engagement accurately prevents paying for assurance over data that was never in scope. ESG solutions covers BRSR Core readiness and evidence preparation, and the ESG guide sets out the wider disclosure structure the Core subset sits inside.