Forging Legacy into Leadership: How Tata Steel Became India’s Most Valuable Industrial Brand

By Tanya Ranjan

In a recent report by Brand Finance, a brand valuation consulting firm, Tata Group has yet again emerged as the most valuable brand in the country with a brand value increase of 10 per cent to $31.6 billion, also becoming the first Indian brand to cross the $30 billion threshold. According to the report, “This historic milestone underscores India’s expanding economic clout and the Tata Group’s multi-sector dominance, with strategic investments in electronics, EVs, semiconductors, AI, and renewables.” But how does a 117-year-old industrial giant stay relevant in a country sprinting toward digital futures and green frontiers?

Founded in 1907 under the vision of Jamsetji Tata, Tata Steel has always stood for more than profit. That is the prime reason behind its long-sustained popularity and value. It pioneered welfare capitalism in India long before the term entered boardroom vocabulary; introducing the eight-hour workday, maternity leave, and workplace safety at a time when industrial workers were treated as expendable. For many in the steel city of Jamshedpur, the brand isn’t just a company; it’s a way of life.

According to the Brand Finance report, the Tata Group also recorded the highest Sustainability Perceptions Value at $4.3 billion. In 2025, it was also recognised as a Steel Sustainability Champion by World Steel for the eighth consecutive year. This is primarily due to the company’s various sustainability initiatives.

At a time when industries are grappling with inclusion, Tata Steel has also set measurable DEI targets. The company is actively pursuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) targets, with a key focus on increasing the representation of women in its workforce by 2025. Specifically, they aim to achieve a 25% female workforce by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster a more inclusive and diverse workplace. It also became one of India’s first companies to extend health insurance to same-sex partners and to issue gender-neutral parental policies.

The reason for the Tata Group being the most valuable brand in the country is plenty, but first and foremost, it’s the people-first approach that the company takes in its decision-making and policies. This approach aligns with the Tata ethos of “We Also Make Tomorrow”, which focuses on more than just steelmaking but on a future that is more humane and livable. In an age of unicorn start-ups focused on quantity rather than quality, Tata Steel offers a different model- one which is values-driven and built to last. That, perhaps, is its most valuable asset of all.

 (Author is manager of content and communications. Views are personal.)