Uptick in ESG India assets, as value rises nearly three-fold year-on-year

India is seeing early signs of pickup in demand for ESG funds. The assets under management of such funds have grown 190 per cent to $2.02 billion at the end of August 2021 from $699 million the previous year, data from Refinitiv shows. Similar to the broader market, ESG products sold off at the outset of the pandemic but the global crisis, coupled with continued climate and social concerns, has resulted in fervent interest in ESG investing.

There are 22 Indian ethical funds as compared to 148 in Belgium, Pakistan (159), China (162), Germany (352), US (612) and Luxembourg (2135). The collective AUM represented by PRI (Principles of Responsible Investment) signatories increased by 20 per cent to $103.4 trillion as of March 31, 2020 from from $86.3 trillion at the end of the previous year.