Baba Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited, has been named the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025 in Business, a recognition awarded to exceptional leaders who have significantly shaped India’s economic and strategic trajectory.
Kalyani was felicitated by Amitabh Kant, Former CEO of NITI Aayog, and Justice Indu Malhotra (Retd.) at a ceremony where the distinguished jury praised his decades-long contribution to India’s industrial rise. They credited him with placing the country firmly on the global manufacturing map and driving breakthroughs in indigenous defence technologies.
Under Kalyani’s leadership, Bharat Forge has evolved from a domestic forging company into a globally respected player in advanced manufacturing, mobility technologies, and defence engineering. His work has been instrumental in strengthening India’s capabilities in defence production and accelerating the nation’s journey toward technological self-reliance.
Accepting the award, Kalyani dedicated the honour to his grandmother and family, acknowledging the values and discipline that shaped his four-decade-long journey. “India stands at a historic inflection point,” he said. “The next phase of defence and manufacturing growth will be driven by innovation-led engineering, process transformation, and the creation of a strong product-driven ecosystem.”
He reaffirmed Bharat Forge’s commitment to advancing indigenous defence technologies, expanding domestic manufacturing capabilities, and contributing to India’s emergence as a global defence power.
