ESG Assurance

Independent Assurance to Build Credibility in Your ESG Disclosures

As ESG disclosures increasingly influence investment, lending, and procurement decisions, unverified claims carry real reputational and regulatory risk. Independent assurance gives investors, regulators, and other stakeholders confidence that a company's ESG disclosures are accurate and prepared with appropriate rigour.

We support companies through the ESG assurance process — preparing evidence, coordinating with assurance providers, and building the internal controls needed to obtain a clean assurance opinion on BRSR Core and other ESG disclosures.

Our ESG Assurance Support Services

Assurance Readiness Preparation

Preparing evidence files, methodology documentation, and control records ahead of the formal assurance engagement.

Assurance Provider Coordination

Managing the engagement process and information requests between your company and the assurance provider.

Gap Remediation Before Assurance

Identifying and fixing data or control gaps in advance to avoid qualifications in the assurance opinion.

Limited vs. Reasonable Assurance Advisory

Advising on the difference in evidence and control requirements between limited and reasonable assurance levels.

Value Chain Assurance Support

Assisting significant value chain partners in preparing their own ESG data for assurance where required.

Post-Assurance Improvement Plan

Building an action plan to close gaps identified in the assurance report ahead of the next reporting cycle.

Why ESG Assurance Matters

SEBI mandates reasonable assurance on BRSR Core disclosures for specified large listed entities on a phased basis
Assured ESG disclosures carry significantly more credibility with institutional investors and analysts
Assurance reduces the risk of ESG-related greenwashing allegations or regulatory scrutiny
The assurance process itself often surfaces internal control weaknesses worth fixing regardless of the mandate
Reasonable assurance requires a higher level of evidence gathering than limited assurance, and should be planned for well in advance
Consistent year-on-year assurance builds a credible track record that strengthens ESG-linked financing and investor relationships

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between limited assurance and reasonable assurance?

Limited assurance involves the assurance provider performing procedures to identify whether anything comes to their attention suggesting the disclosures are materially misstated, resulting in a negative form of conclusion, while reasonable assurance requires more extensive evidence-gathering procedures, similar in rigour to a financial statement audit, resulting in a positive opinion on the disclosures.

Which ESG disclosures currently require mandatory assurance in India?

SEBI has mandated reasonable assurance specifically for BRSR Core disclosures, applicable in a phased manner to the top listed entities by market capitalisation, with the requirement being progressively extended to more entities and to certain significant value chain partners over the notified timeline.

How should a company prepare for its first ESG assurance engagement?

Preparation typically involves conducting an internal readiness review well before the formal engagement, documenting the methodology used for each disclosed metric, gathering supporting evidence such as utility bills and HR records, and ensuring data owners across departments understand what evidence they will need to produce for the assurance provider.

Can an ESG assurance opinion be qualified?

Yes, similar to a financial audit, if the assurance provider is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence for a disclosed metric, or identifies a material misstatement that management does not correct, they may issue a qualified conclusion, which can raise concerns among investors and regulators reviewing the disclosure.

Do value chain partners also need ESG assurance?

SEBI has extended certain BRSR Core disclosure and assurance-related expectations to significant value chain partners of the largest listed entities on a comply-or-explain basis in the initial phase, meaning suppliers of large listed companies should be prepared to provide their own ESG data, potentially subject to assurance, in the near future.

Build Credible, Assured ESG Disclosures

From readiness preparation to assurance coordination, we help you achieve a clean assurance outcome on your ESG reporting.

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