Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC) in India: Complete CCTS Guide 2026
What is a Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC)? Learn how CCCs are earned, priced and traded on IEX, PXIL and HPX under India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.
Under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), the unit every obligated industry will earn, buy, sell or surrender is the Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC).
What Is a Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC)?
A CCC is a tradable certificate issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the CCTS, 2023.
- 1 CCC = 1 tonne of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e)
- Held in the ICM Registry run by Grid-India
- Traded only on IEX, PXIL and HPX (who executes the trade?), and can be banked for future years
Try it: estimate your footprint with our free Emission Calculator and check your exposure with Carbon Risk Profiling.
Two Ways to Earn CCCs
Compliance Mechanism
About 490 units across seven sectors have binding greenhouse gas emission intensity (GEI) targets, with an FY 2023-24 baseline and compliance years FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27. Iron & steel (around 255 units) is in draft.
Offset Mechanism
Non-obligated projects can earn CCCs under BEE methodologies after the full project cycle: why an approved project isn't a CCC yet.
How CCCs Are Calculated
- Beat the target: CCCs earned = (Target GEI − Achieved GEI) × Production
- Miss the target: CCCs to surrender = (Achieved GEI − Target GEI) × Production
Hit the target exactly and you earn zero (why CCTS isn't cap and trade).
The CCC Lifecycle
Register on the ICM Portal, monitor under a BEE-approved plan, get verified by an Accredited Carbon Verification Agency (ACVA), file Form A after the year ends, receive CCCs from BEE, then trade, surrender or bank.
How Carbon Credit Trading Works in India
Under the CERC CCC Regulations, 2026, trades happen in monthly sessions on IEX, PXIL and HPX, within a floor and forbearance price band that, as of 22 October 2026, is not yet announced. Full rules: who executes CCC trades.
Carbon Credit Price in India
As of 22 October 2026, no CCC has traded yet, so there is no official price. Analysts expect early trades around ₹400–900 per tonne. Track the status: India's first carbon credit trade, what still has to happen.
Surplus CCCs to sell? List your credits or explore our Compliance Market and Offset Market.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
Missing your obligation triggers environmental compensation by CPCB at twice the average CCC price, payable within 90 days.
CCC vs REC
A CCC is one tonne of CO₂e for CCTS compliance and offsets; a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is one MWh of renewable power for purchase obligations. The same asset should never earn both for the same output: see double counting.
ICT helps you earn, buy or bank CCCs: registry and exchange onboarding, dMRV data ready for verification, and a trading plan.
Free CCC estimate: email your Gazette code to contact@internationalcarbontrade.com, and we'll estimate whether you'll earn or buy CCCs.
Keep Reading
- ACVA List India 2026: 18 Carbon Verifiers Under CCTS
- India's First Carbon Credit Trade: What Still Has to Happen
- Is CCTS Cap and Trade? Intensity Targets, Zero Credits, Banking
Our CCTS Services
International Carbon Trade (ICT) is an India-based CCTS marketplace and dMRV platform offering 18 end-to-end services, from BEE ICM Portal registration and ACVA verification to buying, selling and banking CCCs on India's power exchanges.
| Register and Set Up | Monitor, Verify, File | Trade and Plan |
|---|---|---|
| BEE ICM Portal registration | dMRV platform, monthly data | Buying CCCs on power exchanges |
| Grid-India registry account | ACVA selection and booking | Selling or banking surplus CCCs |
| IEX / PXIL / HPX onboarding | Verification evidence pack | Offset CCC sourcing |
| Monitoring plan (BEE template) | E2 form and GHG emission report | Risk profiling (AAA–B) |
| Target gap and penalty analysis | Form A and Form D filings | Abate, buy or bank strategy |
| Five-year GHG reduction plan | BEE and registry query handling | CBAM and BRSR reporting |
For any services related to CCTS, contact International Carbon Trade:
- Email: contact@internationalcarbontrade.com
- Phone: +91 90544 01707
- Website: internationalcarbontrade.com
- LinkedIn: Follow International Carbon Trade
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Carbon Credit Certificate (CCC) in India?
- A CCC is a tradable certificate issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under CCTS, 2023. One CCC equals one tonne of CO2e.
- Where can I buy or sell carbon credits in India?
- Only on CERC-registered power exchanges: IEX, PXIL and HPX. International Carbon Trade helps with onboarding and finding buyers and sellers.
- What is the carbon credit price in India?
- As of 22 October 2026, no CCC has traded. Early prices are estimated at Rs 400 to Rs 900 per tonne.
- What is the penalty for missing CCTS targets?
- CPCB levies environmental compensation at twice the average CCC trade price, payable within 90 days.
- Can Carbon Credit Certificates be banked?
- Yes. Surplus CCCs can be carried forward to future compliance years.
- How can ICT help with CCTS?
- ICT offers 18 CCTS services, from registration and dMRV to CCC trading. Email contact@internationalcarbontrade.com or call +91 90544 01707.