Corporate Sustainability in India: ESG Practices, Net-Zero Strategies, and the Path to a Green Economy

Abstract

The context of this study is the incorporation of, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) actions and corporate tactics in order to facilitate net-zero emissions in India. With regulators and investors taking increasingly strong regulatory and investor perspectives, ESG adoption has emerged as a key engine of financial resilience, stakeholder trust, and long-term sustainability. However, challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies, capital constraints, and greenwashing risks hinder widespread implementation. Through secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, corporate sustainability reporting and government reports, this work analyzes leading trends in ESG adoption, industry benchmarks and obstacles to carbon neutrality. Results suggest that targeted approaches for sectors, green finance, and improved regulation of corporate sustainability are critical to progress in corporate sustainability. The paper suggests policy recommendations and an action plan to improve ESG compliance and to promote India's low-carbon transition, providing sustainable growth without compromising the country's net-zero ambition towards 2070.