The fourth National Conference on Responsible Business Conduct (NCRBC) 2026 concluded in New Delhi. The conference is relevant because it connected corporate governance with constitutional environmental rights, ESG disclosure, and sustainable development.

The conference was organised by the School of Business Environment of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The valedictory session featured former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay S. Oka and the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh.

What the conference emphasised

Justice Abhay S. Oka said the right to live in a pollution-free environment is part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. He linked responsible business conduct to the Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles of State Policy, and the Fundamental Duties.

He also traced India's environmental jurisprudence to the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which followed the Bhopal gas tragedy. His larger point was that economic growth, social justice, and environmental protection must be read together.

Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh said ESG considerations have moved beyond a compliance exercise and now shape business resilience, risk management, investment attraction, and sustainable innovation. He also stressed that responsible business conduct depends on leadership and not only on regulation.

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