NDTV Profit on Friday, 17 July unveiled the nominees for its Business Leadership Awards 2026, recognising leaders, companies, and institutions that have shaped India's evolving corporate landscape. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Mumbai on 26 July, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman serving as chief guest.

A Jury of Industry Heavyweights

The awards jury is chaired by Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and includes some of the most prominent names in Indian business and public life. Members include Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts; Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group; former Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman U.K. Sinha; Jayant Sinha, President of Everstone Group and former Union Minister; investor Ramesh Damani; and C.S. Setty, Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI).

What the Awards Recognise

Now in its twentieth year, the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards have recognised excellence in business leadership since 2006. This year's categories span a broad range of sectors — artificial intelligence, financial services, green growth, philanthropy, public policy, initial public offerings (IPOs), self-reliance, entertainment, and leadership across public and private sector organisations.

According to NDTV Profit, the nominations this year reflect the breadth of India's corporate ecosystem, bringing together established industry leaders, emerging technology firms, public sector enterprises, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

What Organisers Said

Rahul Kanwal, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV, said the awards celebrate leadership that builds institutions and creates long-term value. 'The NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards have always celebrated leadership that matters — leadership that builds institutions, creates value, strengthens trust and contributes to India's larger growth story,' Kanwal said.

Tamanna Inamdar, Managing Editor of NDTV Profit, noted that this year's nominees reflect India's growing strength across technology, governance, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. 'The nominee list this year reflects a country that is winning on the global stage, with leaders and companies that are not only responding to change, but actively defining the next era of growth,' Inamdar stated.

Context and Significance

The announcement comes at a moment when India's corporate sector is navigating rapid shifts in technology adoption, green energy transition, and global capital flows. The inclusion of AI and green growth as award categories signals how significantly the priorities of Indian business leadership have evolved since the awards were first instituted two decades ago. The presence of Finance Minister Sitharaman as chief guest also underscores the intersection of policy and private enterprise that defines this edition.

With the ceremony set for 26 July in Mumbai, the full list of winners is expected to draw significant attention from India's boardrooms and policy circles alike.