Vikram Kasbekar Succeeds Pradeep Bhargava as CII GreenCo Council Chairman

Hyderabad, September 24, 2025: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has announced that Vikram Kasbekar has taken over as Chairman of the GreenCo Council, succeeding Pradeep Bhargava, who has served with distinction since 2011.

During his more than a decade-long tenure, Bhargava has been instrumental in driving the GreenCo movement from its inception into a pioneering industry-led sustainability framework. Under his visionary leadership, GreenCo expanded to cover over 1,500 companies and 1,000+ rated plants spanning 27 sectors. The Council’s initiatives have delivered more than INR 5,136 crores in cost savings, driven significant reductions in carbon emissions, and promoted effective resource conservation and water management across industries. GreenCo’s reputation has grown to become a recognized benchmark in voluntary green rating systems, featuring in national and international forums including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) submitted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Bhargava’s stewardship also saw the GreenCo Council broaden its scope to embrace net zero pathways, water positivity, circular economy principles, and green supply chains, positioning Indian industry as a global leader in sustainable development. He played a catalytic role in fostering partnerships with central and state governments, regulatory bodies, industry groups, and academic institutions to deepen the impact of GreenCo standards.

Expressing his wholehearted confidence in Kasbekar’s leadership as the incoming Chairman, Bhargava stated, “It is with great pride and satisfaction that I hand over the reins of GreenCo to Vikram Kasbekar. His expertise and passion for sustainability make him the ideal leader to advance GreenCo’s mission and navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Kasbekar acknowledged the strong foundation laid by his predecessor and outlined his strategic vision for the Council’s future. “GreenCo today is a powerful movement with over 1,000 active rated plants across multiple sectors, tens of thousands of trained professionals, and growing regional forums driving sustainability action at scale. My goal is to accelerate this momentum by expanding GreenCo’s footprint across industries, increasing grassroots engagement through more regional chapters, and scaling capacity building to equip professionals with critical sustainability skills,” he said.

Kasbekar emphasized the importance of fostering green supply chains and introducing rigorous net zero certifications for water, waste, and carbon footprints within value chains. This will enhance accountability, trust, and measurable impact across industrial ecosystems. He also underscored the role of innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence and IoT-based monitoring, to revolutionize environmental performance management.

Looking ahead, GreenCo aims to deepen sector-specific programs, particularly in hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals, while reinforcing collaborations with government, international partners, and academia. The GreenCo Forum will continue to be a vibrant platform for knowledge sharing, best practice exchange, and collective progress toward India’s national climate and sustainability goals.