India’s TOP 500 Companies 2021

INDIA’S TOP 500 COMPANIES 2021 1 Dun & Bradstreet India, in association with CtrlS and Cloud4C, takes great pleasure in presenting the 2021 edition of its premier publication ‘India’s Top 500 Companies’ . Over the past two decades, the publication has earned the reputation of being one of the most credible and comprehensive compendiums on the Indian Corporate sector. The India’s Top 500 Companies publication, now in its 21st edition, profiles the frontrunners among large Indian listed corporates. Since the first release of the publication in 1997, these Top 500 Companies have consistently grown faster than the Indian economy. They account for about 16% of India’s GDP, 46% of foreign exchange earnings and about 23% of India’s tax revenues. Therefore, it would not be wrong to label them as the driving force of the Indian economy. The publication ranks these companies based on their total income, net profit, and net worth. It also presents a comparison of financial parameters of companies within their respective sectors. Just as the world was beginning to make a gradual return to normalcy towards the end of 2020, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in India, have tempered expectations of a quick recovery of the global economy. Fears of a looming third wave only magnify the uncertainty. One of the positive outcomes from these circumstances, however, is the impetus that is now being given to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors. Increased awareness about the scale of risks that could arise out of unprecedented events is compelling Governments to pursue a ‘green’ recovery. Companies that have adopted and implemented ESG frameworks have been generally found to be better prepared in terms of dealing with uncertainties and unknown risks. Given these realities, ESG is expected to gain prominence in the near future, especially in the Indian context. Accordingly, the theme of India’s Top 500 Companies 2021 is “Laying the Foundations for an ESG-Ready Corporate India” . In the light of the theme, this year’s edition of the India’s Top 500 Companies publication features articles, interviews and writeups dwelling on the ESG initiatives of Top 500 Companies. We have also included a separate listing of top ESG performers from the universe of Top 500 companies. Furthermore, we have added an additional listing titled ‘India’s Premier 150 Unlisted Companies’ - a tribute to large corporates that are not listed on stock exchanges. The current landscape has completely redefined business resilience and growth strategies. The Indian Corporate sector will need to review their business priorities, revolutionize their processes and leverage advanced technologies in order to endure and eventually prevail in the current scenario. Given their scale and stature, India’s Top 500 Companies can certainly influence a revival of India’s economic growth. I hope you will enjoy reading ‘India’s Top 500 Companies 2021’ and look forward to receiving your valuable feedback and suggestions. PREFACE Avinash Gupta Managing Director & CEO - India Dun & Bradstreet Dun & Bradstreet