Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - Principles and Practice · Integrated Reporting Framework, Global Reporting Initiative Framework and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting

BRSR versus BRR, GRI and Integrated Reporting

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

BRSR is SEBI's mandatory sustainability disclosure format for top listed Indian companies. It replaced the narrower Business Responsibility Report (BRR), is built around the nine NGRBC principles, and draws on GRI-style metrics. GRI is a global impact-reporting standard. Integrated Reporting is a principles-based, investor-focused report on value creation across six capitals.

Understand BRSR versus BRR, GRI and Integrated Reporting

Start with the purpose of each framework. A report can be written for regulators, for all stakeholders, or for investors. Most comparison questions test this one idea.

BRR was the older Indian format. It asked listed companies to describe how they followed the nine principles of the National Voluntary Guidelines (NVGs). It was largely narrative, with many yes/no style answers and little quantified data. BRSR replaced it. It is mandatory for the top listed companies by market capitalisation as prescribed by SEBI, and it asks for much more quantitative, comparable data. It follows the nine principles of the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC), which updated the NVGs.

BRSR has three sections: general disclosures, management and process disclosures, and principle-wise performance disclosures. Within the principle-wise part, indicators are split into Essential and Leadership. Essential indicators must be reported. Leadership indicators are voluntary. BRSR Core is a smaller set of key indicators that need assurance.

GRI is a global standards set for reporting a company's impacts on the economy, environment and people. It is stakeholder-focused and built on materiality, which in GRI means the organisation's significant impacts. It is modular: universal, sector and topic standards. Use is voluntary unless a law or a company chooses to require it. Integrated Reporting (IR) comes from the IIRC framework. It is principles-based, not a list of metrics. It tells the story of how an organisation creates value over short, medium and long term using six capitals. Its main audience is providers of financial capital.

Alignment: BRSR was designed to be interoperable with global frameworks. A company that already reports under GRI can reuse much of its data for BRSR. BRSR does not replace GRI or IR, and it does not ask for a full integrated report. Treat them as complementary: BRSR for Indian regulatory compliance, GRI for detailed impact disclosure, IR for connected value-creation storytelling.

Key rules to remember

BRSR vs BRR in one line: BRR = narrative, NVG-based, nine principles; BRSR = data-rich, NGRBC-based, nine principles, Essential and Leadership indicators; Both use nine principles, but the underlying guidelines and the depth of data differ.
BRSR structure: Section A (General) + Section B (Management and Process) + Section C (Principle-wise Performance); Section C splits into Essential and Leadership indicators.
Audience test: BRSR → regulator and investors in India; GRI → all stakeholders (impact); IR → providers of financial capital (value creation); Use this to anchor any comparison answer.
Nature of each framework: BRSR = mandatory for prescribed listed entities; GRI = voluntary standards; IR = voluntary principles-based framework; Voluntary applies unless a law or the company itself requires use.
Materiality lens: GRI = impact materiality; IR = matters affecting value creation; BRSR = prescribed disclosures; BRSR is largely prescriptive, so the company does not choose most indicators.

How to solve BRSR versus BRR, GRI and Integrated Reporting questions

Use this method for any question that asks you to compare, distinguish or explain alignment among these frameworks.

1Identify which frameworks the question names and what it asks: difference, alignment, or suitability.
2Pick comparison heads: origin and issuer, legal status, audience, nature (prescriptive or principles-based), content, and assurance.
3Write one line on each framework before comparing, so the examiner sees you know the basics.
4Compare point by point under your heads. Use a two-column layout if a comparison is requested.
5Add the alignment angle: BRSR draws on global frameworks, and GRI data can feed BRSR.
6If the question is a case, apply the facts: state the company's situation, which framework applies, and why.
7Close with a one-line conclusion that states how the frameworks complement each other.

Quickest way: Four-head comparison

When to use it: When you have under ten minutes for a compare-and-contrast question.

Write the four heads: Status, Audience, Nature, Content.
Fill BRSR first: mandatory for prescribed listed entities, regulator and investors, prescriptive, quantitative.
Fill the other framework in the same order.
Add one alignment line and a conclusion.

Common mistakes in BRSR versus BRR, GRI and Integrated Reporting

Saying BRSR has a different number of principles from BRR.
Students assume a new format means new principles.
Fix: Both are organised around nine principles. The change is the guideline base (NGRBC instead of NVG) and the depth of data.
Calling GRI or IR mandatory in India for listed companies.
Students mix up the global frameworks with SEBI's BRSR.
Fix: BRSR is the mandatory format for prescribed listed entities. GRI and IR are voluntary unless required by law or the company's own choice.
Treating BRSR as a substitute for GRI or IR.
Because BRSR is interoperable, students think it replaces the others.
Fix: Say it aligns with them and that data can be reused. It does not replace them.
Saying IR is about environmental impact metrics.
Students blur IR with GRI.
Fix: IR is about value creation across six capitals, aimed at providers of financial capital. GRI is about impact disclosure.
Writing that all BRSR indicators are mandatory.
Students forget the Essential and Leadership split.
Fix: Essential indicators are to be reported. Leadership indicators are voluntary. BRSR Core carries assurance.

Worked examples

Example 1

Distinguish between the Business Responsibility Report (BRR) and the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR).

Show the solution

State the base: BRR followed the nine principles of the NVGs. BRSR follows the nine principles of the NGRBC.
Compare nature: BRR was largely narrative with limited quantified data. BRSR asks for structured, quantitative and comparable disclosures.
Compare structure: BRR was a single report format. BRSR has three sections: general disclosures, management and process disclosures, and principle-wise performance.
Compare indicators: BRSR splits indicators into Essential and Leadership. BRR had no such split.
Compare focus: BRSR adds sustainability data, such as environmental and social metrics, and has a BRSR Core set with assurance.
Conclude: BRSR is the more detailed, comparable and verifiable successor to BRR.

Answer: BRR was a narrative report on the NVG principles. BRSR is its data-rich successor based on NGRBC, with three sections, Essential and Leadership indicators, and assurance for BRSR Core.

Example 2

Aarav Textiles Ltd, a listed company required to file BRSR, already publishes a voluntary GRI report. The board asks the company secretary whether it can skip BRSR. Advise.

Show the solution

Provision: BRSR is a mandatory disclosure for the listed entities SEBI prescribes. GRI is a voluntary standards set.
Analysis: The GRI report does not meet the statutory format. BRSR has a prescribed structure with Essential indicators that must be reported.
Alignment: BRSR was designed to be interoperable with global frameworks, so much of the GRI data can be reused.
Practical point: Map existing GRI data to BRSR indicators, identify gaps, and arrange assurance for BRSR Core indicators.
Conclusion: The company cannot skip BRSR. It can reduce effort by reusing GRI data.

Answer: Aarav Textiles must file BRSR. The GRI report is voluntary and does not replace it, but its data can be mapped to BRSR to save effort.

Exam tips

Always give a reason for each difference, such as audience or legal status, not just a label.
Name the nine-principle base: NVG for BRR, NGRBC for BRSR.
Use the word complementary when discussing alignment.
In case questions, state the provision, apply facts, then conclude.
Keep a short comparison table in mind, but write it as aligned points since tables may not suit all layouts.

Practice questions from Integrated Reporting Framework, Global Reporting Initiative Framework and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting

BRSR versus BRR, GRI and Integrated Reporting: frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between BRSR and BRR?

BRR was a narrative report based on the NVG principles. BRSR is a more detailed, data-driven report based on the NGRBC. It has Essential and Leadership indicators and BRSR Core with assurance.

Is BRSR the same as GRI?

No. BRSR is a SEBI-prescribed format for listed entities. GRI is a global voluntary standards set for impact reporting. BRSR is designed to align with global frameworks, so GRI data can support it.

How is integrated reporting different from BRSR?

Integrated reporting is a principles-based framework that explains value creation through six capitals, mainly for providers of financial capital. BRSR is a prescribed disclosure format with specific indicators.

Can a company use GRI data in BRSR?

Yes, in many cases. BRSR is built to be interoperable with global frameworks, so a company can map its existing GRI data to BRSR indicators and fill the gaps.