N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, has been conferred an Honorary Knighthood by the United Kingdom for his contribution to strengthening UK–India business relations.
He has been awarded “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division)” in the rank of Honorary KBE/DBE.
Key Highlights
| Aspect | Details |
| Awardee | N. Chandrasekaran |
| Position | Chairman, Tata Sons |
| Award | Honorary Knighthood (KBE/DBE) |
| Conferred by | United Kingdom |
| Recognition for | UK–India business relations |
| Order | The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) |
Significance of Award
- Recognises contributions to:
- Business and economic relations
- Public life and international cooperation
- Reflects strengthening of: India–UK economic ties
- Being an honorary knighthood, it is awarded to: Foreign citizens (non-British nationals)
About N. Chandrasekaran
| Aspect | Details |
| Current Role | Chairman, Tata Sons (since 2017) |
| Joined Board | October 2016 |
| Notable Distinction | First non-Tata family professional to head Tata Group |
Career Highlights
- Former CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (2009–2017)
- Led TCS to become one of the world’s largest IT services firms
- Currently chairs major Tata companies: Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Power.
- Leadership: Heads Tata Sons, which oversees 100+ companies and Combined revenue exceeding $100 billion
Global and Industry Roles
- Active participant in: India’s bilateral business forums with- USA, UK, Australia, Japan
- Former:
- Chairman of NASSCOM (2012–13)
- Represents India’s IT and business sector globally
About “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”
| Aspect | Details |
| Established | 1917 |
| Founder | King George V |
| Type | British order of chivalry |
| Divisions | Civil and Military |
| Purpose | Recognises: Contributions to: Science, Arts, International relations, Public service, Business |
Classes of the Order (Descending Order)
| Rank | Title |
| 1 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) |
| 2 | Knight/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE) |
| 3 | Commander (CBE) |
| 4 | Officer (OBE) |
| 5 | Member (MBE) |
Key Features
- Motto: “For God and the Empire”
- Insignia:
- Cross with central medallion
- Civil division features Britannia
- Ribbon: Rose-pink with pearl-grey edges
Eligibility
- Awarded to: Commonwealth citizens, British citizens, Foreign nationals (Honorary awards)
- Honorary awardees cannot use the title “Sir/Dame”, but may use post-nominal letters.
Related Award
British Empire Medal (BEM):
- Recognises grassroots contributions
- Not part of the Order membership