ICAI Opens Sustainability Reporting Awards 2025-26 Nominations Until November 15
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has opened nominations for the 5th ICAI Sustainability Reporting Awards 2025-26. The nomination window runs from 17 September to 15 November 2026, giving companies and other eligible organisations a live two-month window to submit their Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting material for evaluation.
ICAI says the awards recognise excellence in Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR). For finance, sustainability and reporting teams, the useful part of the announcement is not only the closing date: the official brochure also sets out how organisations should choose their award category, which documents have to accompany a nomination and the circumstances in which an award may later be withdrawn.
Four award tracks, each split between manufacturing and services
The 2025-26 awards are organised into four tracks: large-cap companies, mid-cap companies, small-cap companies and voluntary disclosures. Each track is then split into manufacturing and service-sector categories.
ICAI gives a specific rule for organisations that operate in both manufacturing and services. The category is determined by the dominant source of revenue: where more than 50% of turnover comes from one side of the business, that side determines whether the organisation is entered under manufacturing or services. That rule matters for diversified groups because the brochure does not ask them to choose a category merely by corporate description or brand identity.
The nomination is document-led
The brochure identifies four mandatory documents: the organisation's BRSR, annual report, the chairman's statement or speech at the annual general meeting, and a company profile. ICAI also asks applicants to enclose the other reports and documents relevant to the nomination and says submitted material will be used solely for evaluating the awards.
There is no participation fee. ICAI states that the jury's decision on matters relating to the awards will be final. The brochure directs applicants to the ICAI sustainability awards nomination portal and the ICAI awards announcement links to the official 2025-26 brochure.
What the evaluation note means for reporting teams
ICAI says organisations are usually required to prepare their BRSR and other sustainability reports in accordance with recognised sustainability reporting standards mentioned by SEBI, and notes that compliance with those standards is often an important part of evaluation. The announcement is therefore not simply an invitation to submit a polished annual-report extract: the underlying reporting package and supporting disclosures are part of what is being assessed.
The brochure also contains a limitation that applicants should read carefully. ICAI says it does not guarantee the accuracy of data or information supplied by entities in their BRSR reports and supporting documents. It also reserves the right to withdraw an award if later information, complaints or verification issues reveal misrepresentation, misconduct or non-compliance with the award criteria.
For teams preparing a nomination, the practical task is to settle the correct category first, then assemble one internally consistent evidence set across the BRSR, annual report, AGM chairman's statement and company profile. The closing date is 15 November 2026, so teams have a defined window to reconcile the submitted reporting package before filing.
Official source: View the official source document
