Ratan Tata was Director No.1 in MCA records

Ratan Tata was the first executive of India Inc to receive a director identification number (DIN) when the government introduced unique identification numbers for company directors in 2006.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs opened the first account for Ratan Naval Tata by issuing him DIN number ‘1’.

The concept of a Director Identification Number (DIN) was introduced to enhance transparency and accountability within the corporate sector.

This is one among the many firsts associated with Tata, the doyen of Indian industry who passed away aged 86 on Wednesday night. In 2015, Ratan Tata became the first Indian to be inducted into the prestigious Automotive Hall of Fame. It was Tata’s dream to provide a safer means of transport to India’s middle class with the Tata Nano. The “people’s car” was launched at ₹1 lakh in 2008. Even though Nano’s manufacturing cost was more than ₹1 lakh, the car was launched at the promised price.

Tata Group’s auto arm launched the country’s first indigenously built passenger vehicle with Tata Sierra. It also launched India’s first SUV with Tata Safari. Under Tata’s leadership, the group made a bold bet by buying Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) from Ford for $2.3 billion in 2008.

Tata, who took over as chairman in 1991, is credited with making the Tata Group an international enterprise. Under his tenure, revenues of Tata Group grew from $4 billion to $100 billion. Post his retirement as Tata Group chairman in 2012, Tata invested in over 40 startups.

Today, Tata Group comprises 30 companies across ten verticals. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. 66% of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture.

In 2023-24, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was more than $165 billion. These companies collectively employ over 1 million people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 26 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of more than $365 billion as on March 31, 2024.