From a single 20,000 sq. ft. green building in 2003 to 20,012 projects covering 16.33 billion sq. ft.; IGBC’s 25-year journey has reshaped how India designs, builds and operates its built environment.
Hyderabad, 31 August 2026: The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), today marked 25 years of advancing India’s green building movement. Established by CII in 2001, IGBC has helped transform sustainability from a pioneering concept into a mainstream development priority.
India now has 20,012 registered green building projects covering more than 16.33 billion sq. ft., across IGBC’s 33 Green and Net Zero rating systems. The movement spans approximately 41 lakh residential dwelling units, 11,770+ commercial projects, 1,320+ transit infrastructure projects, 985+ industrial buildings, 271 Net Zero projects and 190+ built environment projects.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations brought together senior leaders from government, industry and the green building movement to reflect on IGBC’s 25-year journey and chart the way forward for India’s sustainable built environment. The programme was attended by Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Telangana, as Chief Guest; Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, E&C, Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana, as Guest of Honour; Dr. Suchitra K. Ella, President Designate, CII; Mr. Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman, CII Green Business Centre; Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII; Mr. B Thiagarajan, Immediate Past National Chairman, IGBC; Mr. C Shekar Reddy, National Chairman, IGBC; and Mr. A R Unnikrishnan, National Vice Chairman, IGBC. The celebrations featured reflections on the evolution of India’s green building movement, stakeholder contributions to IGBC’s journey, and discussions on the opportunities and priorities for the next phase of sustainable and Net Zero development.
Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Telangana, said, “I am proud to join IGBC in celebrating 25 years of a pioneering green building movement. As Telangana pursues rapid economic and infrastructure growth, sustainability must remain at its core. We are scaling up renewable energy and working towards a future where our buildings, industries and data centres are powered by clean energy. Our vision is to make sustainable infrastructure accessible to everyone—from our cities to Tier-II towns and rural communities. Sustainable design cannot be a luxury; it must become a basic standard of living. We look forward to partnering with IGBC to make green construction more affordable, scalable and inclusive, and to position Telangana as a model for green and resilient growth.”
IGBC’s journey is closely linked to the CII–Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad, India’s first Platinum-rated green building. Inaugurated by the then President of India, the late Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in July 2004, the building achieved Net Zero Energy status in 2019.
Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, E&C, Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana, said, “IGBC has shaped India’s architectural and environmental conscience, transforming sustainability from a choice into a standard practice. Telangana is proud to have been a partner in this journey. As our state emerges as a global hub for technology, AI and advanced industries, sustainability will be central to our growth, with clean energy, water security and resource-efficient infrastructure becoming increasingly important. The Government of Telangana stands firmly with IGBC in institutionalizing green building practices, promoting eco-friendly industrial development and creating sustainable urban habitats. Together, we will build a greener, cleaner and more resilient Telangana for generations to come.”
IGBC’s assessment indicates average savings of approximately 35% in carbon emissions, 40% in water use, 50% in energy use and 70% in solid waste. Its Net Zero Mission, launched in 2021, has attracted commitments from 350+ organisations. IGBC has recorded 155+ Net Zero Certified Projects, with more than 271 registered projects covering approximately 298.4 million sq. ft. The certified portfolio has reported significant energy generation, water reduction and recharge, and diversion of municipal and construction waste.
Mr. Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman, CII Green Business Centre, in his special address said, “IGBC has played a pioneering role in demonstrating that environmental responsibility and business value can go hand in hand. From building confidence and acceptance of green buildings to advancing the conversation towards resource efficiency, sustainability, net zero and decarbonization, for the last 25 years, IGBC has helped create a strong foundation for India’s green building movement. We started by demonstrating that green buildings were possible. The next challenge is to make a greener way of building the normal way of building. This will require greater innovation, stronger policy support and wider industry adoption, with IGBC continuing to be a thought leader and catalyst for collaboration.”
As part of the celebrations, key highlights include the release of a 25-year commemorative video film capturing the evolution of the green building movement and the milestones of IGBC’s journey since its establishment in 2001. An IGBC@25 memoir dossier was also released, documenting the Council’s 25-year journey, key milestones and its contribution to advancing green and Net Zero development across India.
Dr Suchitra K Ella, President Designate, CII in her special address said, “IGBC has transformed sustainability from a desirable addition to development into a prerequisite for growth, resilience and competitiveness. By creating standards, building awareness and inspiring thousands of organisations, IGBC has helped shape a national movement that is changing the way we design our buildings, industries, campuses and cities. As India looks ahead, the next 25 years must be defined by regenerative innovation, technology-enabled sustainability and collaborative leadership. IGBC has an important role to play in ensuring that sustainability is embedded in the DNA of India’s growth.”
Today, IGBC’s programmes extend beyond buildings to railways, mass rapid transit, high-speed rail, cities, townships, villages, logistics, healthcare and industry. It has worked with 2,800+ government projects, trained 60,000+ professionals, and operates through 32 local chapters across India. Thirteen State Governments have introduced incentives for IGBC-certified projects.
Mr. C Shekar Reddy, National Chairman, CII–Indian Green Building Council, welcomed the dignitaries, industry leaders and stakeholders gathered to mark IGBC’s 25th anniversary. He reflected on the journey of IGBC from an emerging green-building initiative 25 years ago to a nationwide movement, driven by thousands of stakeholders who believed that India’s economic growth could and should be sustainable.
Mr. A R Unnikrishnan, National Vice Chairman, CII–Indian Green Building Council, in his closing address, reflected on how the green building movement has fundamentally changed the way India thinks about the built environment. He highlighted the growing integration of sustainability across materials, design, energy, water, waste, carbon and occupant well-being, while emphasizing the need to make these practices deeper, more measurable and accessible.
As India’s cities, housing, manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure expand, IGBC’s next phase will focus on scaling green and Net Zero practices across the built environment, making sustainable development a standard for India’s growth.
