NEW DELHI: Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India’s largest conglomerates Tata Group, died at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness. Due to his age and health problems, he was hospitalized.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Ratan Tata, calling him a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being.
“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided steady leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contributions extended far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and unwavering commitment to make our society better,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on
“One of the most unique aspects of Shri Ratan Tata Ji was his passion to dream big and give back. “He has been at the forefront of championing causes such as education, healthcare, sanitation and animal welfare, to name a few,” he added.

The legacy of Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata, who is also known for his charity work, was chairman of the Tata Group from 1991 to 2012. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the conglomerate founded by his great-grandfather over a century ago.
In 1996, Tata founded Tata Teleservices, the group’s telecommunications arm, and in 2004, he led the IPO of Tata Consultancy Services, the group’s IT business.
After stepping down as chairman in 2012, Tata retained the honorary title of chairman emeritus of several Tata companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals.
He oversaw the Tata Trusts, which played a crucial role in India’s philanthropic landscape. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Tata received two of India’s highest civilian awards: the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
Besides his business achievements, Tata was also known for his support of entrepreneurship. He had invested in over thirty startups across industries, cementing his position as a prominent investor in the Indian startup ecosystem. Ratan Tata’s legacy extends far beyond the Tata Group as his vision and leadership shaped the Indian business landscape and inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs.