Sustainability in Indian Banking: A Comprehensive Study on Environmental Reporting Practices

Sustainability consciousness has grown incrementally on a global front. Organisations are striving to include all aspects of sustainability in their business contexts. This research investigates Indian banks’ environmental sustainability strategies, with an emphasis on environmental reporting. Using a sample of 30 public and private sector banks in a longitudinal study, descriptive and exploratory research approaches, and statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, the research evaluated their environmental initiatives across 42 key indicators divided into five major categories. According to the analysis, private banks perform better in terms of reporting and are more proactive in environmental management. None of the banks covered every indicator. The recommendations include regulatory assistance, capacity building activities and a tracking mechanism to promote accountability and transparency. This study emphasises the relevance of environmental reporting in establishing sustainable banking practices and provides insights for policymakers, regulators and financial institutions to move forward.