ESG and Corporate Compliance in India: A Legal Analysis under SEBI and MCA Frameworks (2021–2025)

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance has emerged as a cornerstone of responsible corporate conduct in India, particularly since 2021. With rising global and domestic demands for sustainable development and ethical business practices, Indian regulators - especially the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) - have introduced crucial frameworks such as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations under the Companies Act, 2013 . These developments reflect a paradigmatic shift in corporate governance, from profit-centric models to sustainability-oriented mandates. This research paper critically analyses the evolving ESG regulatory landscape in India between 2021 and 2025, with a focus on the legal frameworks enforced by SEBI and MCA. It evaluates the implications of the BRSR, CSR rules, and National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC), and how these instruments influence corporate behaviour. Through a doctrinal and policy-based approach, the paper highlights practical compliance challenges, stakeholder impacts, and case examples of major Indian corporates. Furthermore, it offers a comparative outlook and actionable policy recommendations aimed at strengthening ESG governance in India, ensuring the frameworks not only exist in law but are effectively enforced in practice.