India Steps Up CBAM Compliance: EU Carbon Tax Prep, Verifier Access, and UK Recognition

India is moving on multiple fronts to help exporters meet the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will impose a carbon tariff on goods like steel, aluminium, cement, and fertiliser. The Commerce Ministry has formed a committee to coordinate readiness, and Indian verifiers can now access the EU CBAM registry. Mandatory filing of returns starts in September 2027, but verification begins this month. Some Indian verifiers have already applied for accreditation with EU agencies, which would allow domestic verification of embedded emissions. The UK, which launches its own CBAM in January 2027, has recognised India's NABCB accreditation body and will accept carbon payments made under India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as offsets against UK carbon liabilities. This reduces the risk of double payment for Indian exporters. The move signals practical progress on cross-border carbon accounting, though the real test will be whether verifiers get accredited quickly and whether the data behind emissions claims holds up.