Tata Group, which began in 1868, has had six chairmen until now. Among the six men who served this renowned business group, there was one exceptional man who served as its chairman for 50 whole years and took the Company to great heights. Yes, the man we are talking about is none other than Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, or JRD Tata.
From starting India’s first ever international airline, to giving the Country one of its largest cosmetic brands (Lakmé,) this gentleman has done it all. JRD Tata also strived his best to improve India’s economy on the whole. Here are some unknown facts about this exemplary industrialist.
Unknown facts about JRD Tata
1) JRD Tata was born on 29th July, 1904 in Paris and had a French citizenship for a long time. He even served as a part of the French Army for one year.
2) In 1925, he entered the Tata Group as an unpaid apprentice.
3) JRD Tata was always keen on flying and became India’s first licensed pilot in 1929.
4) In 1929, JRD Tata also renounced his French citizenship and took up Indian citizenship.
5) In 1934, JRD Tata was elected as the Chairman of the Tata Group. He was only 30 years when he was elected for this position, making him the youngest person to head the Group.
6) When he was appointed as the Chairman, the Tata Group had 14 companies under it. JRD Tata expanded it to an empire of 95 companies in a span of 50 years. Some of the most renowned companies established by JRD Tata during his tenure as the Chairman include Tata Motors (1945,) Lakmé (1952,) Tata Tea Limited (1964,) Tata Consultancy Services (1968) and Titan Industries Limited (1987.)
7) JRD Tata was the person who launched Air India International, India’s first ever international airline. For this reason, he is also known as the ‘father of Indian aviation.’
8) JRD Tata was the man who initiated the ‘employee welfare schemes’ in India. He is responsible for the 8 hour work day, free medical aid and the employee provident fund. These principles were later adopted by the Indian Government.
9) It is no surprise this man received several awards during his lifetime. His awards include the Padma Vibhushan (1957) and the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award (1992.)
10) When JRD Tata died in November 1993, the Indian Parliament was adjourned in his honour.
Which of these facts about JRD Tata surprised you the most? Comment below and let us know.
Bengaluru-based investment bank IndigoEdge, in partnership with entrepreneur Hitesh Ahuja, has launched PixelSky Capital, a secondaries fund targeting INR 400 crore. The fund will invest in eight late-stage tech and consumer companies expected to go public within three to four years, with cheque sizes of INR 40–50 crore each. PixelSky has already invested in beauty retailer Purplle and aims to close a second deal by June 2025.
The fund focuses on secondary transactions, allowing existing shareholders to sell stakes to new investors, providing liquidity ahead of IPOs. Founders have committed INR 10–15 crore, with additional capital coming from domestic family offices and startup founders. Final close is expected by March 2026.
Led by Hitesh Ahuja, who sold his foodtech startup Yumlane in 2023, and IndigoEdge cofounder Zerin Rahiman, PixelSky marks IndigoEdge’s expansion from advisory and proprietary investments into fund management. The firm has facilitated over 150 transactions worth around $3 billion and invested INR 25–30 crore as a limited partner in multiple VC funds. PixelSky is currently evaluating about 20 companies before finalizing its portfolio
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service