India’s Government owned companies are required to take long way to catch up with private sector in the matter of adherence to ESG norms and aligning business strategies with sustainable growth path. Assessment of rating agencies highlights this gap and requires leadership of these companies to take more progressive & concrete steps. Aligning with the ESG principles helps companies to expand existing markets and provide new avenues for growth as part of their blue ocean strategy. As it is perceived that ESG-compliant companies are value creators, they have ease of access to resources — natural, financial, human talent, etc — at a lower cost. ESG is critical to fund raising and free access to other resources is equally important in countries like India wherein companies face stiff resistance from local communities while taking up new projects in their reserved areas. The companies with lower carbon emissions, waste reduction, optimum water-usage, higher employment generation and relatively better disclosures will score high on ESG index.