Nirmala Sitharaman to Chief Guest at Inaugural FE Leadership Awards

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be the chief guest on Thursday evening as the Financial Express hands out its first FE Leadership Awards, a gathering built to celebrate the country's most successful business figures. Top corporate leaders are expected to fill the room as winners are called up.

The mood going into the event is upbeat. Indian companies are pushing into new markets, widening their global reach and rethinking how they operate, and the economy has kept climbing despite a tough external climate. The awards aim to put a spotlight on those who are steering that change rather than simply riding it out.

Sitharaman's presence carries extra weight with the Union Budget only weeks away. It will be her tenth consecutive Budget, a run no previous finance minister has matched. Industry will be paying close attention to what she signals about the path ahead and the priorities she sets for the coming year.

Her record is the backdrop for much of the conversation. Despite an energy shock, steep US tariffs and rising inflation, India's growth has stayed brisk. Analysts point to a mix of timely measures, including GST rate revisions and income tax cuts announced in 2025 that have helped keep consumer demand strong, and tax relief for foreign portfolio investors in government securities that signals a push for a more competitive tax regime.

Equally important has been her fiscal discipline. Even while cutting taxes and expanding public spending on roads, railways and ports, the government has stayed on a credible consolidation path, a balance that has won over investors and rating agencies. Many also trace India's appeal to manufacturers back to the sharp corporate tax cut of 2019.

The awards are judged by a seven-member jury led by Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group, with members drawn from technology, law, private equity and professional services. The winners reflect a wide spread: Mahindra & Mahindra's Anish Shah was named CEO of the Year, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries took Company of the Year, and newer names such as Sarvam AI and Skyroot Aerospace were recognised for emerging entrepreneurship and innovation. Other honours went to JSW Group's Parth Jindal, Titan's Ashok Sonthalia, Nykaa, Hindustan Unilever, ABB India and Bella Casa Fashion & Retail.

For readers tracking India's corporate scene, the evening offers a snapshot of who is setting the pace. Full coverage and the complete list of winners are available on the Financial Express website.

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