Bhubaneswar, Aug 26, 2025- On August 26, 1907, in the quiet town of Sakchi, a bold dream took root— a steel plant that would not just supply metal but strengthen the spine of a young nation. That was the genesis of the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), the brainchild of visionary industrialist Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (J N Tata). Today, as Tata Steel marks its 119th Foundation Day, it stands as a beacon of industrial excellence and a model for corporate citizenship—a reflection of its founder’s vision.
When J N Tata first conceived the idea of a steel plant in India, it was a dream ahead of its time. At a period when the world questioned the feasibility of such an endeavour in India, Jamsetji’s conviction and courage prevailed. The year 1907 marked the birth of Tata Steel in Jamshedpur— a city built on principles as strong as the steel it produces.
The history of Tata Steel is not just the story of a company. Its establishment marks the moment when modern India started spreading its wings. Tata Steel pioneered the art of steelmaking, and even more prominently, the art of inclusive growth. From spearheading labour welfare and urban planning in the early 1900s to championing cutting-edge manufacturing, community development, environmental care, and ethical leadership, Tata Steel stands as a testament to purposeful enterprise.
Tata Steel has never defined success solely by its financial performance or production milestones. From the very beginning, the Company embraced a philosophy that businesses exist to serve society. Decades before the term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ came into existence, Tata Steel invested in the well-being of the communities around its operations. The Company continues to be guided by the vision of its founder: “The community is not just another stakeholder in business but is in fact the very purpose of its existence.” In the fiscal year 2024-25 alone, Tata Steel’s CSR efforts impacted 5.77 million lives in India.
During the more than a century long period of its existence, Tata Steel has faced world wars, economic crises, and technological disruptions. Each challenge has been met with innovation, agility, and resilience. From being India’s first integrated steel plant to becoming one of the world’s largest integrated steel manufacturers, Tata Steel’s journey has been marked by pioneering achievements and a spirit of adaptability. Today, with operations spanning multiple countries and a diversified product portfolio, Tata Steel remains committed to operational excellence, technological leadership, and value creation for all stakeholders.
In the 21st century, the Company remains focused on sustainable progress in all geographies where it operates. The financial year 2024-25 was a significant milestone for the Company as it commissioned India’s largest blast furnace at Tata Steel Kalinganagar and initiated its journey in low-emission steelmaking as it builds electric arc furnaces in Ludhiana, India and Port Talbot, UK. As Tata Steel has set itself a target of net zero emissions by 2045, it is constantly investing in driving decarbonisation across its value chain by investing in innovative technologies, using alternative fuels for logistics, and enabling a circular economy. Its collaborations and investment in adopting renewable energy and digital transformation reflect its commitment to aligning growth with environmental stewardship.
Though Tata Steel was established in Jamshedpur, it also has a century-old strong relationship with Odisha. Starting with mining operations, today the state – with three steelmaking plants, one industrial park and a ferroalloys business – has become the heart of Tata Steel’s growth aspiration in the country. After the commissioning of Tata Steel Kalinganagar Phase II expansion, the Company now plans to expand the Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited facility from 1 to 9.5 million tonnes per annum. With cumulative investment of more than ₹1,00,000 crore so far, Odisha is now the largest investment destination of Tata Steel.
The next chapter of Tata Steel’s journey is about creating solutions that serve not just markets but the planet too. The Company’s direction remains clear: to lead the steel industry’s transition to a sustainable future for the industry, people, and planet.
