Environmental Social Governance is a framework used globally to analyze the operations and impact of organizations.
ESG professionals are in greater demand in 2026 because the SEBI BRSR Core mandate now requires mandatory Reasonable Assurance for the top 1,000 listed companies, creating an urgent gap for qualified ESG Auditors.
ESG professionals can get roles like:
ESG Auditor / Assurance Provider
ESG Consultant
ESG Strategist
ESG Manager
With a Certificate in ESG Reporting and Management, graduates and professionals can get high-impact roles across various industries with potential to land senior and leadership positions.
ESG is a policy framework designed to assess the performance and processes of companies in the following three domains:
Environmental: Carbon emissions, energy consumption, water usage, waste management
Social: Employee welfare, diversity, wage parity, health & safety, community impact
Governance: Board independence, ethics, risk management, transparency, controls
Modern businesses have to pay keen attention to ESG because :
It reduces risk of non-compliance or legal challenges
It makes organizations better trusted and improves reputation
It supports long-term sustainability of the organization
It improves market relevance and investor readiness
These functions are vital across business in various industries and skilled ESG professionals are needed to ensure compliance, strategy and growth.
In 2026, ESG businesses need skilled and qualified ESG professionals because top listed companies are now legally required to ensure ESG reporting. This mandate has come into effect from 2024-25 to ensure that companies assess their ESG risks, responsibilities and sustainability claims in a standardized form backed with data.
The new mandate, under the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) core framework, required top 1000 listed companies to report their practices and performance as per standardized metrics. Furthermore, the expansion into Value Chain Reporting means large firms are now auditing the ESG performance of their SMEs and vendors, multiplying job roles in supply chain management.
Key features of BRSR and BRSR Core frameworks by SEBI include:
Key performance indicators (KPIs) for ESG
Need to provide 3rd party assurance
Standardized assessment across industries
Aligning India’s ESG with global policy
Thus, companies across industries are looking for ESG professionals to remain ESG compliant and devise strategies as per new guidelines.
For professionals looking to upskill, exploring structured sustainability courses in India can help build practical ESG and compliance skills.
The ESG framework is complex and applying to various industries requires systematic learning and certified qualifications.
Qualified ESG professionals need the skills and knowledge to provide valuable insights about
Risk: Professionals identify and assess environmental or social risks that organisations need to account for in their strategy and plan.
Transparency: Professionals ensure that organisations create data-based, accessible communication about their practices and impact.
Credibility: Standardised ESG reporting improves the reputation of companies and improves credibility with stakeholders, employees and customers.
Sustainability: Professionals assess whether products, services and processes of companies are sustainable in the long term.
These functions are vital to business for compliance as well as strategy.
Professionals who want to enter this domain or upskill to become relevant need structured learning with a credible qualification. As a graduate or a working professional, investing 6 months in a Certificate in ESG Management and Reporting can make you valuable across all industries.
Explore this guide on ESG certification courses in India
An ESG certification course is a good fit for the following types of candidates:
Working professionals in finance, compliance, risk, and governance roles.
Sustainability and CSR professionals.
Fresh graduates seeking entry into ESG and sustainability careers.
Consultants, auditors, and policy professionals.
Understanding the difference between ESG and CSR can also help professionals choose the right career path
ESG professionals have growing opportunities for career development because there is a growing regulatory requirement. Professionals are needed to:
Interpret ESG regulations
Collect and analyse ESG data
Prepare BRSR reports
Identify ESG risks and opportunities
Support audits and assurance
ESG Data & Climate Risk Analyst
Focused on ESG data analysis, interpretation, reporting and rating.
ESG Assurance Professional (BRSR Specialist)
Focused on supporting organizations with ESG audits, reporting and assurance.
ESG Reporting Specialist
Focuses on preparing ESG, BRSR, and sustainability reports.
ESG Compliance Manager
Focuses on ensuring adherence to ESG regulations and disclosures.
ESG Strategy Consultant
Focuses on integrating ESG into corporate strategy and long‑term planning.
Green Finance Consultant
Focuses on integrating ESG scores into investment and fund management.
Professionals can further advance their career in the field to get roles like Chief Sustainability Officer.
Energy and Power
Focuses on reporting on aspects like scope 3 emissions, climate risks, and aligning India’s Net Zero aspiration. There is growing demand for professionals in energy financing, renewable energy, etc.
Manufacturing, logistics and supply chain
Companies now require Scope 3 Emissions Specialists to manage value-chain disclosures, making this sector the fastest-growing employer for ESG talent."
BFSI
ESG metrics now influence the reputation as well as the performance of a company in the market thus various investment firms, banks, and financial institutions need ESG professionals to integrate the metrics into their decision making.
Consulting
Consulting firms working for business across sectors are looking for ESG professionals to provide 3rd party assurance, conduct ESG audits, analyze ESG data and make reports, etc.
ESG as a field has a great career potential because
ESG policies are becoming stringent and compliance risks are growing
ESG is a future centric field and needs professionals
ESG is globally common and this demand is also global
Professionals with certification have potential for various roles for different sectors and industries.
Role | Entry Level | 3–5 Years Experience |
ESG Analyst / Reporting Analyst | ₹6–9 LPA | ₹12–18 LPA |
ESG Auditor / Assurance | ₹8–12 LPA | ₹20–30 LPA |
Sustainability Consultant | ₹8–14 LPA | ₹18–30 LPA |
ESG Investment Analyst | ₹10–15 LPA | ₹25–40 LPA |
ESG Compliance Manager | ₹10–16 LPA | ₹20–30 LPA |
In this field, entry level positions can move to leadership positions with experience and skill. For fresh graduates or working professionals with limited experience, professionals can earn from INR 6 LPA to INR 16 LPA. Mid and senior level positions can earn packages from 12 LPA to 30 LPA.
Enter the growing ESG industry with a qualification that opens doors.
Invest only 6 months in the Certificate course offered by Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL), India’s top ranking online and distance education institute.
The course is designed to prepare graduates and working professionals to enter the ESG domain.
Skills Students Learn:
Analyze ESG concepts across various industries
Master the ISSB (IFRS S1 & S2) global baseline and India-specific BRSR Core metrics for audit-ready reporting.
Evaluate ESG risks and implement plans to manage them
Provide ESG reporting for compliance and due diligence
Key Features of the Program
100% placement support
Strong industry connect
Industry aligned curriculum
Flexible, online learning
On demand exams
LMS Mobile application
ESG professionals are vital for organisations across many industries, especially in 2026. They ensure compliance to changing regulatory and reporting requirements and maintain business reputation, credibility and performance.
ESG policies are growing in prominence in various industries, such as energy and power, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, etc. Professionals with skills and qualifications in the ESG sector have great scope in India as well as globally.
Whether you are a fresh graduate, want to switch careers to the ESG domain or are already working in the CSR or related field, SCDL’s Certificate in ESG Reporting and Management equips you with the practical audit-readiness needed to lead India’s transition to a sustainable economy.
No. While AI helps collect data, 2026 regulations require human oversight for 'Reasonable Assurance' and strategic decision-making.
ESG certification opens roles such as ESG Analyst, ESG Reporting Specialist, Sustainability Consultant, ESG Auditor, ESG Risk Officer, and ESG Compliance Manager across corporates, finance, and consulting firms.
Demand for ESG professionals in India is driven by SEBI’s mandatory BRSR and BRSR Core requirements, investor focus on sustainability, and India’s long‑term net‑zero and climate commitments.
Any graduate from a recognised university can apply for this course. With this qualification, you can enter the field with confidence and the right skills.
There are many entry and mid-level roles in the ESG domain that graduates and working professionals can get. With experience, senior-level positions like Chief Sustainability Officer also become available.
With an ESG certification, professionals in finance and investment can advance their careers to get mid and senior strategy and decision-making positions.
Energy, manufacturing, finance and investment, banking, IT services, infrastructure, and consulting firms are among the largest ESG recruiters due to regulatory and investor pressure.
Professionals in the field can get senior leadership positions with experience, skills and qualifications.
ESG policies are implemented by organisations in India and abroad. Thus, ESG professionals have scope for careers globally.
Entry‑level ESG roles typically start at ₹6–9 LPA, with experienced professionals earning ₹18–30 LPA or more in consulting, assurance, and investment‑focused roles.
The 6-month certificate course in ESG Reporting and Management has the following benefits:
Industry-aligned curriculum
100% placement support
Flexible, online learning
On-demand exams