India's carbon credit market, explained

Two routes under one scheme

India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) was notified in 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022. It has one currency, the Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC), and two ways to earn or need it.

• Compliance route: notified industrial units get an emissions limit per unit of output. Beat it and earn certificates; miss it and buy certificates or face a penalty.
• Offset route: eligible projects such as renewable energy, biogas, green hydrogen, afforestation or waste management can earn certificates after verified reductions.
• International voluntary credits are separate instruments and are not Carbon Credit Certificates.

Where things stand today

Official prices have not yet been published, and more sectors are still being brought in. Check BEE and the Indian Carbon Market Portal before planning around a date.

• 2023: CCTS notified under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.
• Early 2026: more sectors receive binding targets and CERC issues trading rules.
• March 2026: the Indian Carbon Market Portal goes live for registration and reporting.
• 31 July 2026: first compliance filings for FY 2025-26 fall due.
• Around October 2026: first certificate trades are expected on the exchanges.

Who does what

• Ministry of Power and MoEFCC: set policy for the scheme.
• Bureau of Energy Efficiency: sets targets, registers participants and issues certificates.
• Accredited carbon verifiers: independently check reported emissions.
• Grid-India: runs the central registry for certificate holdings.
• CERC and power exchanges: regulate and operate certificate trading.

How Net Zero Sustainable Solutions helps

• Baseline and target gap checks using an ISO 14064 inventory.
• Reporting and data readiness for annual filing and verification.
• Offset project screening and evidence planning.
• CBAM and product carbon footprint work for EU exporters.