ESG Careers in India: Jobs, Skills & Growth Opportunities (2026)

• 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. 

Admissions Open – Start Your ESG Career Today

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

Suitability of ESG Certification 

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.

• Executives looking to upskill for ESG leadership roles. 

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

Top ESG Job Roles in 2026

As a certified ESG professional with skills, you can get roles like

• 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.

Key Industries 

The following industries typically have high demand for ESG professionals in 2026:

• 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. 

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.