Ratan Tata became chairman of the Automobile Steel Group in 1991 (file)

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India’s largest conglomerates, Tata Sons, is in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of a Mumbai hospital, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mr Tata, 86, who led Tata Sons for more than 20 years and is credited with the company’s expansion and diversification, said on Monday that he was undergoing routine medical check-ups due to his age and related medical conditions.

A representative for Tata, one of the world’s largest conglomerates with revenue of $165 billion in 2023-24, did not immediately respond to a request for an update on its status on Wednesday.

The sources, one of whom is close to the Tata family and both have direct knowledge of his health, did not provide further details about the nature of his illness.

Mr Tata was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, it said.

In a statement posted on his social media profiles on Monday, Mr Tata said he remained in good spirits and there was no cause for concern.

Mr Tata is no longer as active in the group’s day-to-day operations as he once was, but is consulted by Tata Sons leadership on key decisions, a senior company executive told Reuters.

However, he is involved in running Tata Trusts, a group philanthropic organization of which he is the chairman.

According to his profile on the Tata Sons website, Mr Tata is also a member of the international advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation and JP Morgan Chase.

Mr Tata became chairman of the automobile and steel group in 1991 and led the group founded by his great-grandfather more than a century ago until 2012.

He founded the telecommunications company Tata Teleservices in 1996 and took the IT company Tata Consultancy Services public in 2004.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)