20th CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards Honour Pioneers of Innovation, Growth, and Transformation

Mumbai: The 20th edition of the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA), presented by Standard Chartered Bank, celebrated India’s top leaders who are shaping innovation, growth, and transformation across industries. The prestigious awards recognized individuals for their bold actions and impactful contributions to the economy.
KP Singh, Chairman Emeritus of DLF, was honoured with the ‘Hall of Fame’ award, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in the transformation of India’s real estate sector. Cyrus Poonawalla, Founder of Serum Institute of India, received the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award for his exceptional contribution to providing affordable public health solutions worldwide. Nita Ambani, Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, was recognised with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Brand India’ award for her role in showcasing India’s cultural heritage and fostering global connections.

In the entertainment sector, actor Rajkumar Rao was named ‘Entertainment Leader of the Year’ for his remarkable performances in films such as Srikanth and Stree 2. Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, received the ‘Outstanding Company of the Year’ award for his leadership at the company.

The event also featured engaging sessions with policymakers who shared valuable insights on India’s economic landscape and future growth opportunities.

Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a fireside chat, said, “Our GDP structure highlights both challenges and opportunities. Agriculture contributes 14%, manufacturing accounts for 22–24%, and services dominate with 52–54%. Despite this, 65% of our population depends on agriculture, yet its growth rate remains at 14%. This imbalance underscores the urgent need to embrace innovation, science, technology, and global best practices to enhance productivity. By shifting to value-added agriculture, empowering rural communities, and diversifying into energy production, we can elevate agricultural growth to 22%, thereby increasing purchasing power in rural India and aligning it with our broader development goals.”

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, shared his thoughts in a conversation with Network18’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi: “I’ve long questioned how interest rates—whether high or low—truly impact the demand for essentials like onions, tomatoes, rice, or pulses. This outdated thinking, tied to traditional inflation metrics like CPI, no longer serves us. In fact, high interest rates may actually fuel inflation, further burdening the common man. It’s time for economists to come together and assess the real impact of monetary policy on food inflation. While the economy remains strong with positive indicators like GST collections and manufacturing growth, we must adapt to changing realities. I’m confident that by the end of the year, we will maintain our position as the fastest-growing economy globally. However, the debate around inflation and interest rates is one we can no longer afford to overlook.”

In his first media address after taking office as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis stated,“The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented mandate, and with it comes a great responsibility of driving India’s economy forward. Maharashtra has always been ahead, and I am proud to share that in just the first six months of this year, we have already achieved 90% of last year’s FDI inflows—poised for a record-breaking year. In infrastructure, Maharashtra is leading the way with projects like the Badhwar port, which is set to become India’s largest and transformative developments, such as the third Mumbai airport in Panvel and the Atal Setu connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Additionally, we are building a ‘third Mumbai,’ three times the size of the current city, to become India’s next business capital. Maharashtra offers unparalleled opportunities, and I assure you that conducting business here will be seamless and supportive. Together, we can make Maharashtra India’s first trillion-dollar sub-national economy.”

The Jury panel for the IBLA 2024 comprised senior industry leaders, including Babasaheb N Kalyani (Chairman & MD, Bharat Forge) and other esteemed jurors from prominent companies such as Standard Chartered, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Apollo Hospitals, and Cognizant.

The CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) are India’s most coveted leadership awards, recognising trailblazers whose courage, vision, and influence are redefining success. The 20th edition honoured business leaders across seventeen categories, celebrating both emerging and established figures in the industry.

Here’s the full list of winners: