Indian tycoon Ratan Tata has died aged 86, it has been announced by Tata Group, the conglomerate he led for more than two decades
Tata was one of India's most internationally recognised business leaders, and the Tata Group is one of the country's largest companies
During his time as chairman the firm bought high-profile brands such as UK-based car maker Jaguar Land Rover and the world's second-largest tea company Tetley
Tata retired as chairman of the Tata Group in 2012, though he later served in an interim capacity for a few months; he was chairman emeritus at the time of his death
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tata as a "visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being"
India's Ratan Tata: In his own words
Tata's body will be kept at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai before the state funeral on Thursday evening. A key road leading to the venue has been cordoned off.
People will be able to pay their respects here from 10:00 to 15:30 India time (04:30-10:00GMT), senior Mumbai police official Abhinav Deshmukh told the media.
One of Tata's last public appearances was in May at a polling booth in Mumbai when he stepped out to vote in the general election.
The 86-year-old was photographed being assisted out of a polling centre. A beaming Tata later held up his index finger to show the indelible ink mark to photographers.
Ahead of the voting day, Tata had urged the city's residents to "go out and vote responsibly".
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesRatan Tata's body brought to his residence
A video from the early hours of Thursday shows Ratan Tata's body being brought to his house from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, where he was admitted.
While Ratan Tata’s peers from the business world and politicians continue to remember him, tributes are also pouring in from celebrities.
Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra called him a “visionary” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and said he had “inspired an entire nation”. Several current and former cricketers, including Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan and Shikhar Dhawan also posted tributes to him.
From the film world, Priyanka Chopra posted that Tata touched the “lives of millions” with his kindness. Other Bollywood stars who shared their grief included Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Anushka Sharma.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Indian parliament, described Tata as "a man with a vision".
"He has left a lasting mark on both business and philanthropy," Gandhi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Chief of his Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge called Tata "an icon" who had "richly contributed to nation building".
"A philanthropist par excellence whose commitment to India’s inclusive growth and development remained paramount, Tata was synonymous with unequivocal integrity and ethical leadership," he posted on X.
The Indian state of Maharashtra has declared a day of mourning for Ratan Tata, the state's chief minister announced.
Tata will be accorded a state funeral, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.
The tycoon lived in the state's Mumbai city, where Tata Sons also has its headquarters.
Image source, ReutersPolice stand guard outside the hospital in Mumbai where Tata died
Tata was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, by the federal government in 2008.
Image source, Getty ImagesSundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google parent company Alphabet, has also paid tribute to Ratan Tata.
In a social media post, the India-born American executive said Tata "leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing the modern business leadership in India".
"He deeply cared about making India better."
Image source, Getty ImagesRatan Tata and Mukesh Ambani share a joke in 2007
Some of India’s most prominent entrepreneurs and business people are mourning the death of industrialist Ratan Tata.
Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani said in a statement that he had lost "a dear friend" and India had lost "one of her most illustrious and kind-hearted sons".
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani also paid tribute to Tata in a social media post saying he was "a visionary who defined modern India’s path".
Motor industry tycoon Anand Mahindra said Tata was "a businessman for whom financial wealth and success was most useful when it was put to the service of the global community".
The chairman of RPG enterprises, Harsh Goenka, said Tata was "a beacon of integrity, ethical leadership and philanthropy, who has imprinted an indelible mark on the world of business and beyond".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tata as a "visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being".
Paying tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi recounted "countless interactions" with Tata and said he was "extremely pained" by his death.
"He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better."
Image source, @narendramodiRatan Tata and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Ratan Tata’s death was announced by the Indian conglomerate that he led for 21 years. A statement signed by Tata Group’s chairman and released on social media said the industrialist was "a truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation."
Tata took the helm of the conglomerate in 1991, just as India was launching radical reforms that opened up its economy and set it on the path to become one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Under his leadership Tata Group grew into a sprawling global business empire that spanned multiple industries from software to sports cars. He spearheaded some of the group’s most high-profile acquisitions including British tea firm Tetley, Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, and UK-based luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover.
Image source, Tata GroupIndia has lost one if its most internationally recognisable business magnates, with the death of Ratan Tata.
He was 86.
Tributes are pouring in for the tycoon, who was hailed as a "titan" of the business world and led one of India's largest companies for more than two decades.
We're going to be covering Tata's life and legacy as figures around the world pay their respects to the influential business leader.