Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 02 JANUARY 2025

Clean Green Or A Mirage On Screen? Combating Greenwashing In IFSC ESG DEBT

Khaitan & Co.
Khaitan & Co.
Contributor
Khaitan & Co.

Khaitan & Co.

Founded in 1911, Khaitan & Co is a heritage law firm that has been a trusted adviser to leading...

View firm profile
Explore more from Khaitan & Co.

In response to the growing concerns related to greenwashing that largely involve misleading claims regarding the environmental benefits of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)...

IndiaEnvironment
Manisha Shroff
Manisha Shroff
Shubha Ojha
Shubha Ojha
Arjita Agarwal
Arjita Agarwal
Author LinkedIn connections

Introduction

In response to the growing concerns related to greenwashing that largely involve misleading claims regarding the environmental benefits of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) labelled debt securities, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has issued a circular on "Principles to mitigate the Risk of Greenwashing in ESG Labelled Debt Securities in the IFSC" on 21 November 2024 (Circular).

What is greenwashing

The term 'greenwashing' in general refers to exercising acts of deception by making unsubstantiated, false, vague, exaggerated or misleading claims regarding the sustainability benefits associated with a product, service, or business operation. The term may also encompass other deceptive practices including concealment, omission, or hiding of relevant information in sustainability claims and usage of words, labels, symbols, and imagery that emphasize the positive environmental aspects while masking or downplaying

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this document does not necessarily reflect the views / position of Khaitan & Co but remain solely those of the author(s). For any further queries or follow up, please contact Khaitan & Co at [email protected].

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

An Overview Of Extended Producer Responsibility For Plastic Waste Management

India generates an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day, of which a substantial share, approximately 10,556 tonnes daily, remains uncollected and enters landfills or the open environment. To address this, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (“MoEFCC”) has notified a national Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) framework for plastic packaging under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended from time to time.
IndiaEnvironment
S.S. Rana & Co.
S.S. Rana & Co.
Article

Greenwashing In India: Laws, Regulations And Compliance Risks For Businesses

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) considerations have increasingly become an important component of corporate decision-making, investor assessments and brand positioning in India. As businesses seek to demonstrate their environmental credentials, terms such as “green”, “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, “carbon neutral” and “environmentally friendly” are increasingly used in advertising, product packaging, corporate communications and sustainability disclosures.
IndiaEnvironment
King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva
Article

Emissions Trading And Carbon Credits In India: A Legal Perspective

India has pledged to reduce its GDP emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2070. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023 establishes a baseline-and-credit system requiring energy-intensive industries to meet greenhouse gas emission intensity targets or purchase carbon credit certificates. This framework shifts India's regulatory focus from energy efficiency to carbon intensity, creating both mandatory compliance obligations and voluntary offset opportunities.
IndiaEnvironment
Argus Partners
Argus Partners
Article

Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court Order Releasing Thane Land From “Private Forest” Acquisition: Implications For Forest Land Classification, TDR And Development Rights

In a significant interim order impacting forest land disputes, urban development, and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the Bombay High Court’s judgment directing the release of approximately 193 acres of land at Manpada, Thane from acquisition under the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975.
IndiaEnvironment
King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva
Article

Ministry Of Labour And Employment Operationalises The Provisions On Payment Of Statutory Bonus

On 25 August 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued two notifications (Notifications) under the Code on Wages, 2019 (Wage Code), thereby operationalising specified provisions relating to payment of statutory bonus for establishments for which the appropriate government is the Central Government. The Wage Code consolidates the legislative framework governing wages and related employee entitlements, including the regime previously governed by the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
IndiaEmployment and HR
Khaitan & Co.
Khaitan & Co.
Article

Punjab And Haryana High Court Strikes Down JAO - FAO Retrospective Amendment As Unconstitutional

The Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) in Jyoti Sareen vs. UOI & Others (CWP No. 15791-2024 (O&M)) (Order) held the retrospective amendments carried out vide the Finance Act, 2026, with respect to the powers of the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) to issue a reopening notice under section 148 (Reopening Notice) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (IT Act), as unconstitutional, being violative of the ‘doctrine of separation of powers’ and thus violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
IndiaGovernment, Public Sector
Khaitan & Co.
Khaitan & Co.
Article

Supreme Court Clarifies Applicability Of SARFAESI Remedies For A Secured Creditor Who Acquires An NPA From A Non-notified NBFC

In Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited v Trupti Sanjay Mehta and Others, 2026 INSC 943 (Kotak Mahindra), the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India considered whether a bank as defined under Section 2(1)(c) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) could invoke the provisions of the SARFAESI Act to recover a secured debt acquired from an entity which was not covered under the ambit of the SARFAESI Act at the time of disbursement of the loan.
IndiaFinance and Banking
Khaitan & Co.
Khaitan & Co.
Article

DOT Notifies Telecom Network Authorisation Rules, 2026: What Has Changed?

On 20 July 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notified the Telecommunications (Authorisation for Telecommunication Network) Rules, 2026 (Rules). The Rules operationalise Section 3(1)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and establish a framework for six categories of telecommunication network authorisations: infrastructure provider (IP) (formerly, IP-I), digital connectivity infrastructure provider (DCIP), internet exchange point (IXP) provider, satellite earth station gateway (SESG) provider, cloud-hosted telecommunication network (CTN) provider and mobile number portability (MNP) provider.
IndiaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Khaitan & Co.
Khaitan & Co.