The Tata Group is India's best-known industrial group with revenues in 2005-06 estimated around US$ 22 billion (Rs. 96723 crores), the equivalent of about 2.7 per cent of the country's GDP. Known for its adherence to business ethics, it is India's most respected private business group. With more than 234,000 employees across 96 operating companies, it is also India's largest employer in the private sector.

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in the 1860s, the Tata Group's early years were inspired by the spirit of nationalism. The Tata Group pioneered several firsts in Indian industry: India's first private sector steel mill, first private sector power utility, first luxury hotel chain and first international airline, amongst others. In more recent times, the Tata Group's pioneering spirit continues to be showcased by companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), today Asia's largest software and services company, and Tata Motors, the first car maker in a developing country to design and produce a car from the ground up.

The business operations of the Tata Group currently encompass seven business sectors - Engineering, Materials, Energy, Chemicals, Consumer Products, Services, and Communications and Information Systems. The Group's 28 publicly listed enterprises - among them standout names such as Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors and Tata Tea - have a combined market capitalization that is the highest among Indian business houses in the private sector, and a shareholder base of around 2.8 million. The Tata Group has operations in more than 40 countries across six continents, and its companies export products and services to 140 nations.

The Tata family of companies shares a set of five core values: integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility. These values, which have been part of the Group's beliefs and convictions from its earliest days, continue to guide and drive the business decisions of Tata companies. The Group and its enterprises have been steadfast and distinctive in their adherence to business ethics and their commitment to corporate social responsibility. This is a legacy that has earned the Group the trust of many millions of stakeholders in a measure few business houses anywhere in the world can match.

The scale of the Tata Group's operations is increasingly turning global. Tata Tea was the first Indian MNC in the global tea industry; Tata Steel is one of the world's lowest cost producer of steel; Tata Chemicals is one of Asia's largest manufacturer of soda ash; Titan is one of the world's top six manufacturer-brands in the watch segment, and Tata Motors is amongst the top six commercial vehicle manufacturers in the world. The Tata Group is increasingly focusing on new technology areas, and has the largest footprint in the information technology and communication sector in India. Besides being the largest software services provider in the country, it is also one of the leading private sector telecom service providers and is also India's largest international long distance and Internet services provider.

The Tata brand is recognised as the largest homegrown brand in India and the most respected brand. The Tata Group's stable of brands also includes many national and some internationally renowned product and service brands, including Tata Indica, Tata Indigo, Indigo Marina, Tata Ace, Tata Safari, Tata Indicom, Taj Group of Hotels (Luxury, Business and Leisure), Ginger, Tata Tea, Tetley, Tata Salt, Tata Steelium, Tata Shaktee, Tata Tiscon, Tata Bearings, Titan, Tanishq, Voltas, Westside, Star India Bazaar and Landmark.

The Tata Group has always believed in returning wealth to the society it serves. Thus, nearly two-thirds of the equity of Tata Sons, the Tata Group's promoter company, is held by philanthropic trusts, which have created a host of national institutions in science and technology, medical research, social studies and the performing arts. The Trusts also provide endowments, grants and program aid to NGOs in the areas of education, healthcare and social upliftment, and financial assistance to deserving individuals.

By combining ethical values with business acumen, globalization with national interests and core businesses with emerging ones, the Tata Group aims to be the largest and most respected global brand from India whilst fulfilling its long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life of its stakeholders.

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