Cover Story
- Take a look at firms that made it to the 500-1000 ranks in our annual listing of BT500 companies in 2011.
- The 500 firms that made it to Business Today's listing of India's most valuable companies.
- Insistent cost pressures over the past four to six quarters have put pressure on margins. Costs are up and margins are down. And companies have either passed on costs to their customers or bravely tightened their belts. What they need to do is think afresh and innovate, as they wait for sustained demand and better times.
- Companies that have steadily climbed up the rankings' ladder to take on the big boys.
- A merger of private companies and public sector units into one listing throws up surprises, and unlocks a treasure trove of value
- There are two vital departures from the BT500 methodology followed in previous years.
- Alphabetical Index of Companies Ranked
- The 2011 edition of the 'India's Most Valuable Companies' offers just one listing of the private firms and PSUs. The most comprehensive ranking reflects a new world where investors reward, or punish, companies in proportion to the value (shareholder wealth) they create or destroy; ownership is incidental.Full coverage: India's most valuable companies | Videos
- A sliced-and-diced look at BT1000 tells us who created value and who destroyed it, the sector champions and the returns warriors
- Coal India's scrip had a great beginning, but its future depends on performance. Full coverage: India's most valuable companies | Videos
- How and why once-mighty companies fell off the BT Top 25 list.
How different things work
In early October, a helicopter sparked off an air alert in major Indian cities after it briefly landed on the coast in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district without communicating its flight plan to the Air Traffic Controller, or ATC.Dassault Systmes Bernard Charles on globalisation
Bernard Charles, President and CEO of Dassault Systemes, the France-based specialist in design and manufacturing process software, was in India recently meeting clients like Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors. Big battle at LilliputRising incomes are expected to sustain the strong consumption demand in India
Increasing urbanisation, a growing middle class, and rising incomes are expected to sustain the strong consumption demand in India over the next two decades, says an IDBI Capital study. After its bitter break-up with the Wadia group in 2009, Groupe Danone has kickstarted its Euro 600-million bottom-of-thepyramid business by launching a milk-based fortified dessert called Fundooz in India.Quotes from business and political leaders
We are deeply committed to making India a low-interest rate regime but that will take time, says Duvvuri Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, quoted by wire agenciesTransferring property via power of attorney does not amount to sale
Transferring property through a power of attorney does not amount to sale.The Indian luxury market defies the slowdown in the economy
The Indian luxury market defies the slowdown in the economy.A new avenue of funds emerges from China
A new avenue of funds emerges from China, but dim sum bonds are not for everyone.National Food Security Bill 2011 has potential to be historic legislation
The Empowered Group of Ministers recently cleared the draft National Food Security Bill, 2011, which aims to cover 67.5 per cent of India's 120 crore people. Broadly, the Bill proposes free food grain for the very vulnerable sections, along with food grain at subsidised rates. However, deficiencies remain.Microsoft hopes to get its mobile act right with the Mango operating system
Microsoft hopes its latest mobile operating system Mango would keep the company from becoming irrelevant in the Indian smartphone market, as it has the capability to compete with Google's Android and Apple's iOS.India is stumbling into the most challenging financial year in a decade
India's economic situation today is reminiscent of late 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed. Inflation is high and the interest rate is being hiked to combat it. If you think this year is bad, wait till the next one comes around.India's and the world's most-talked about CEOs (September 2011)
The news about the three executives of ADAG arrested in the 2G scam denying any wrongdoing generated much media interest, as that raised the possibility of the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, extending the probe dragnet to Ambani himself.Meaning of new word in business - Unpack
Unpack means to decipher, explore or examine in detail.Nokia C2 tops the most watched ads of list of September 2011
There is a curious change in the advertising pattern as we move into the festive season. Consumer durable ads are conspicuous by their absence in our top 25 list this time.Is the plan panel's criticism of the UID project under Nandan Nilekani justified?
This is not surprising considering the impeccable credentials of Nandan Nilekani as a manager on the one hand and the mistrust with which politicians and bureaucrats are viewed by the public on the other. Reader's views on Business Today stories
With the global economy facing the threat of a slowdown, your cover story (The Rainmaker, Oct 30) is timely for the IT industry. Hats off to Francisco D'Souza for turning the fortunes of Cognizant around.
BT-Honda Pro-Am of Champions hits the road for the 17th year.
The oldest pro-am in the country - BT-Honda Pro-Am of Champions - hits the road for the 17th year.
Investing in some east Asian countries could make you richer
Investing overseas, especially in some east Asian countries, could make you richer. Mashelkar sets forth a route map for young scientists
Mashelkar sets forth a route map for young scientists.
What to shop in a foreign country
While travel liberates you, shopping in a foreign land can, at times, be disconcerting, depending on the strength of the currency in question.Audi's new Q3 is a good mix of efficient driving and generous space
Audi's new Q3 is a good mix of efficient driving and generous space, despite small exterior dimensions. Here's a detailed verdict.Check the desirability quotient of new products
Check the desirability quotient of new productsUpcoming events in India and world around
Hospitality giant Amanresorts is up for grabs to the highest bidder. Swoop in for the kill.Restaurant Reviews: Delhi's Le Cirque and Mumbai's Neel
Le Cirque, Delhi, follows in New York's very expensive footsteps, but given its location and lineage, it comes as no surprise that since its low-key opening it has attracted the attention of Delhi's who's who.Mercedes-Benz India's Peter Honegg on his favourite brands
Mercedes-Benz India's Peter Honegg on his favourite brands Who needs vignettes or sepia tones when good, old-fashioned shades of grey do the trickKumarakom's wondrous waterscapes are calling out to India Inc
A board meeting on a houseboat or a canoe race with colleagues across brackish backwaters, Kumarakom's wondrous waterscapes are calling out to India Inc.Cape town is about shark tales and fresh city
Shark tales and fresh fish; the city should issue a 'danger of getting hooked' warning.Aamby Valley City apt as a world-class business offsite destination
Scenic and sophisticated, Aamby Valley City has all the makings of a world-class business offsite destination. That it is lies midway between Mumbai and Pune is an added bonus.Travelling to the soul of the Mara once-in-a-lifetime experience
Travelling to the soul of the Mara to witness the great migration is an incredibly humbling, once-in-a-lifetime experience for most.Sebastian Vettel wins first Indian Grand Prix
Formula One's top tipper, Sebastian Vettel, is as good as they come. He is focused yet fun, driven but grounded, names his cars, and yes, is scared of mice. BT More caught up with the speedster.
Bosch's MD V.K. Viswanathan on his leadership style
Bosch's MD V.K. Viswanathan on his leadership style
Milk sector needs policy fixes
Indians are consuming more milk than ever. Prices are up more than 10 per cent since March, according to some estimates. Demand is increasing, not just for milk but also for branded dairy products. Besides funding, the milk sector is gaining knowhow that requires immediate attention.Yebhi.com can be a potential threat to Flipkart
With a manic focus on customers, Yebhi.com wants to make the leap from an online shoe-seller to an e-commerce titan in India. Watch out, Flipkart.Multimedia classroom business growth slows down
Competition, lack of market depth, and declining prices are slowing the growth of the multimedia classroom business.Investors are pouring money into ethnic food chains
Ethnic foods are aiming for the big time, and investors are pouring money into them.Naveen Tewari's InMobi is on a direct collision course with Google
InMobi is the Bangalore company that powers the advertisements on smartphphones. Naveen Tewari, the man running InMobi, and the other three co-founders have managed to create a company that should exceed $100 million, or about Rs 500 crore, in revenues in 2011. SoftBank has valued InMobi at $1 billion. It is now on a direct collision course with Google.Marico forays into skincare products
Making a dent in the Rs 5,000-crore skincare market may not be as easy. It is currently dominated by Unilever, with brands like Lakme, Fair and Lovely, Vaseline and Pond's. Vaseline and Pond's together occupy more than 50 per cent of the market.Unitech and Telenor slug it out in the courts
Growing mistrust sours yet another joint venture as Unitech and Telenor slug it out in the courts. Unitech Wireless has dragged Telenor to the Company Law Board, a quasi-judicial body which deals with corporate disputes, alleging mismanagement of the joint venture's operations.
Many low-cost tablets are unfortunately low-value too
Low-cost need not necessarily mean low value. There are some relatively cheap tablets that do not compromise on performance. But unfortunately many low-cost tablets are low-value as well. Punjab takes centrestage with its own string of movie hits
The backdrop of many successful Hindi films, Punjab takes centrestage with its own string of hits.
Events of the fortnight and upcoming ones
New wheels for tech town: Bangalore becomes the first city in south India to get a modern metro system. One up on Delhi, the network provides Wi-Fi connectivity on-board, in keeping with the city's image as the one that stole tech jobs from the West. How to handle confrontation and change it into consensus
Self-awareness is needed to turn confrontation into consensus.
People who made news
Starring: Jonty Rhodes, Ajay Chacko, Olivier Bernheim, Joshua Schulman, Steve Felice 
