Baba Kalyani, the veteran industrialist who heads Bharat Forge, has been named the Indian of the Year 2025 in Business, with national leaders describing him as a driving force behind India’s modern manufacturing and defence capabilities.
Presenting the honour, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said Kalyani’s work “placed India firmly on the global industrial map.” Justice Indu Malhotra (Retd.) added that his leadership “redefined what Indian engineering can achieve at a global scale.”
Kalyani, accepting the award, dedicated it to his grandmother and family, calling them the foundation of his values and discipline. “India is at a historic inflection point,” he said. “The next phase of defence and manufacturing growth will be shaped by innovation-led engineering and strong product development.”
He reiterated Bharat Forge’s commitment to strengthening domestic defence capabilities and advancing India’s journey toward self-reliance.
