What is BRSR?
BRSR, the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report, is the ESG disclosure SEBI requires from India's top 1,000 listed companies by market capitalization, reported against nine principles of responsible business conduct.
Who files and what is mandatory
Per SEBI's circular of 10 May 2021, BRSR became mandatory for the top 1,000 listed companies by market capitalization from FY 2022-23, after a voluntary year in FY 2021-22, and replaced the earlier Business Responsibility Report. Under each principle, essential indicators must be reported and leadership indicators are voluntary. Manufacturers, pharmaceutical groups, IT services firms, real estate developers and dairy companies all report.
The BRSR Core glide path
BRSR Core is a set of KPIs under nine ESG attributes that must be independently assessed or assured. SEBI's circular of 28 March 2025 set the glide path: top 150 listed entities from FY 2023-24, top 250 from FY 2024-25, top 500 from FY 2025-26 and top 1,000 from FY 2026-27. Its intensity ratios use revenue adjusted for purchasing power parity. The same circular allowed third-party assessment under Industry Standards Forum standards as an alternative to assurance, and made value chain ESG disclosure voluntary for the top 250.
Measured inputs for energy and water intensity
BRSR Core divides energy and water by revenue, so any error in consumption carries straight into the ratio. aQ WaterGuard meters withdrawal by source line and tracks STP treated volume and reuse. aQ EnergySmart separates grid, rooftop solar and diesel generator supply, the three-source pattern common at Indian sites. Uploaded utility bills are reconciled against sub-meter data before the figures go to your assessor.