In a significant step towards strengthening India’s ESG ecosystem and fostering responsible business practices, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, inaugurated its fourth batch of the IICA Certified ESG Professional – Impact Leader Programme on Sunday in a virtual ceremony. This flagship initiative serves as a vital platform for building ESG leadership and regulatory expertise, equipping professionals with the skills necessary to integrate and imbibe the spirit of responsible business conduct and investment strategies into the DNA of businesses.
In her welcome address, Prof. Garima Dadhich, Programme Director & Head, School of Business Environment, IICA, acknowledged the visionary leadership of Dr. Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, DG & CEO, IICA, and expressed gratitude for his unwavering support in advancing ESG excellence and shaping the institute’s initiatives. She also underscored the growing financial significance of ESG, noting that India requires an estimated $2.5 trillion by 2030 to meet its climate and sustainability targets. She emphasized that sustainable finance, green bonds, and impact investing will be key enablers in bridging this investment gap and called for greater corporate participation in ESG-led economic transitions.
Delivering the inaugural address, Inderdeep Singh Dhariwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate affairs, emphasised that ESG is no longer an option but a necessity for businesses to remain competitive in an evolving global landscape. Pramod Rao, Executive Director, SEBI, provided insights into SEBI’s ongoing efforts to enhance ESG disclosures, sustainability-linked investments, and the credibility of ESG ratings, ensuring greater accountability in corporate sustainability reporting.
Bo Beiskjaer, Chief of Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships, UNICEF India, highlighted the social dimension of ESG, urging businesses to integrate diversity, equity, and social responsibility into their ESG strategies to drive inclusive and sustainable development.
Sanjay Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, emphasised the critical role of the Programme in equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to drive sustainable transformation across industries. He highlighted the National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) as a key feature of the programme, serving as a dynamic platform that fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and thought leadership among ESG professionals.
Providing an overview of the programme, Prof. Garima Dadhich, Head, School of Business Environment, IICA, highlighted the diverse cohort of 100+ senior professionals from key industries, with 35% female participation and representation from 23 states, reflecting India’s expanding ESG landscape. The Inaugural programme was successfully moderated by Programme co-ordinator and Senior Research Associate, Ms. Shivangi Vashishta.
The programme fosters ESG leadership and industry-academia collaboration empowering ESG leaders with the expertise to drive climate resilience, inclusive growth, and responsible business practices, aligning with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and SDGs. Successfully certified candidates join the National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL), an online platform and dynamic community of 350+ ESG professionals, fostering ongoing learning, networking, collaboration, leadership, and policy advocacy to drive India’s ESG transformation.
