BRSR: Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting
What it is, who needs it, and how to comply
What is BRSR?
BRSR is India's mandatory framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures. Think of it as an annual report card where companies disclose how much they pollute, how they treat employees and communities, and how transparently they're governed.
Who Must File BRSR?
Top 1,000 listed companies on BSE/NSE (by market cap as of March 31 each year) — includes all Nifty 500 companies, many mid-caps, and select small-cap leaders.
Companies ranked 1,001–10,000. Unlisted companies (but some voluntarily adopt BRSR to attract ESG-focused funding).
Top 10,000 listed companies, large unlisted companies (revenue >₹500 crore), Public Sector Units.
What Companies Must Report (Environmental Focus)
Under Principle 6 (Environment) — where carbon emissions are reported — companies disclose:
- Total electricity consumption (kWh)
- Renewable energy percentage
- Scope 1 emissions (tonnes CO₂e) — mandatory
- Scope 2 emissions (tonnes CO₂e) — mandatory
- Scope 3 emissions — voluntary but encouraged
- Emission intensity (tCO₂ per unit of revenue or production)
- Total water withdrawal, consumption, discharge, recycling %
- Hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated, recycled %
- Operations in or near ecologically sensitive areas
How Emissions Are Calculated
Example: 1,000 tonnes coal × 2.42 = 2,420 tCO₂
Intensity: 5,000 tCO₂ ÷ ₹100 Cr revenue = 50 tCO₂/Cr
BRSR vs CCTS: What's the Difference?
| Aspect | BRSR | CCTS |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Disclosure (transparency) | Compliance (targets) |
| Enforcer | SEBI | Bureau of Energy Efficiency |
| Who | Top 1,000 listed companies | 490 industrial entities (9 sectors) |
| Scope | All emissions + water, waste, social | Only carbon emissions |
| Penalty | Regulatory action | 2× carbon credit price |
| Reward | Investor confidence | Carbon credit revenue |
| Verification | Not mandatory (yet) | Mandatory (accredited agencies) |
Real Example: Infosys BRSR (FY 2022–23)
Cost of BRSR Compliance
- Staff time: 40–80 hours
- Software tools: ₹50K–2L/year
- Total: ₹2–5 lakh
- Consulting fees: ₹5–15 lakh
- Verification: ₹2–10 lakh
- Total: ₹7–25 lakh
For perspective: This is <0.1% of revenue for most top-1,000 companies.