Corporate governance mechanisms and integrated reporting: evidence from Indian companies

Integrated reporting (IR) is a reporting format that companies are adopting to fulfil the need for comprehensive information arising from global competition, regulatory requirements, and stakeholders' expectations. Previous research revealed that corporate governance (CG) variables, including board size, gender diversity, frequency of board meetings, audit committee, and board independence, contribute significantly to IR quality. However, most of these studies concentrated on developed economies, underlining a research gap in developing economies such as India, where IR is still in its voluntary adoption phase. This study examines the relationship between CG variables and the extent of disclosures in integrated reports of 80 Indian companies listed in the BSE S&P 100 Index between 2020 to 2022. Results uncovered that all variables positively and significantly impacted level of disclosure, with board independence having the most significant impact, followed by frequency of board meetings and board size. This highlights the significance of considering CG variables while transitioning to IR for enhancing stakeholder relationships.