The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has issued a new sustainability assurance standard aimed at strengthening the consistency, reliability and credibility of sustainability-related information reported by organisations.

The standard, titled SSA 5000 – General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements, was issued in September 2026 through ICAI’s Sustainability Reporting Standards Board. It establishes a principles-based and framework-neutral approach to conducting sustainability assurance engagements.

SSA 5000 is aligned with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA 5000), with certain provisions adapted to India’s regulatory and professional context. This alignment brings India’s sustainability assurance framework closer to international practices while retaining requirements suited to the domestic environment.

The standard is designed to support assurance engagements across different sustainability reporting frameworks. It aims to establish a consistent approach to evaluating sustainability information and strengthen confidence among investors, businesses and other stakeholders who rely on corporate disclosures.

The introduction of SSA 5000 will also replace existing assurance standards in this area. SSAE 3000 and SAE 3410 will be withdrawn once the new standard comes into force, bringing sustainability-related assurance engagements under a more unified framework.

SSA 5000 will be effective for sustainability assurance engagements relating to financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2027. Its implementation is expected to support the evolving sustainability reporting and assurance landscape in India as stakeholder expectations for reliable ESG information continue to grow.

The development marks an important step in strengthening India’s sustainability assurance ecosystem and aligning professional practices with the growing demand for transparent, consistent and credible sustainability information.