RC Bhargava, 85, chairman of Maruti Suzuki Ltd, started his career as an IAS officer in 1956 and worked for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited before joining Maruti Suzuki in 1981. The veteran of the Indian automotive sector speaks to Forbes India about his book Getting Competitive, the need for tax and policy reforms in the manufacturing sector, and the future of the automobile sector in India.
Q You have discussed both Nehruvian and Narendra Modi’s policies in your book. What are the key initiatives that stand out for you from both regimes?
The biggest change that took place when Narendra Modi came to power was his emphasis on reviving manufacturing. Not only did they say this is the most important thing for India, but he also started making a substantial number of reforms to make it easier to do business in India and reduce costs.
And now I go back more than 60 years. I don’t remember any other government that made specific attempts to make manufacturing more competitive and make it easier to do business in India. Everybody talked about it. But talk is one thing, and doing something about it is something else.
And that is the biggest difference: That Modi is actually trying to do something. It’s another matter that for various reasons, the policies have not been what you would expect them to be. But at least you have a person who is committed. It also depends on what kind of advice he gets, what kind of system he has inherited, and what kind of mindsets people have.
Q In your book, you have mentioned: “Poverty cannot be eradicated unless wealth is created in the economy.” How can this be done?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 31, 2020 من Forbes India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 31, 2020 من Forbes India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure
Living Waters
A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet