The steel titan betting on India's electric vehicle revolution
In short: Sajjan Jindal didn't just build a steel empire; he engineered a framework for industrial survival. From turning around failing facilities in the 1980s to navigating global trade wars, his trajectory reflects a high-stakes gamble on India's ability to become a global manufacturing alternative to China.
Sajjan Jindal’s rise within the OP Jindal Group was forged through a rigorous 'test' by his father, Om Prakash Jindal. After graduating in mechanical engineering in 1982, Jindal was tasked with turning around two struggling facilities near Mumbai in 1983–1984. This early experience in operational turnaround laid the groundwork for his leadership of the JSW Group, where he eventually merged multiple entities like JISCO and JVSL to form JSW Steel in 2005. A key mechanism behind the family's enduring influence is the 'division of business' framework established by the patriarch before his death in 2005. This structure granted equal shares to four sons—Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan, and Naveen—while simultaneously ensuring each brother held cross-holdings in the others' businesses. A mechanical engineering undergraduate qualification was obtained by him at Bangalore's Ramaiah Institute of Technology. His youngest brother, Naveen, currently serves as a Member of Parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party. This family structure ensures the group remains a significant political and industrial force.
This strategic interlocking prevented fragmentation and consolidated the family's industrial power. Today, Jindal is a vocal advocate for 'self-reliance' and domestic supply chains. He has been a prominent critic of state-subsidized Chinese steel imports, arguing that without safeguard duties, India risks becoming a dumping ground. A 12% provisional safeguard duty was imposed on steel imports in 2025 following his lobbying. Furthermore, he is pivoting the group toward the future of mobility, partnering with SAIC Motor to localize electric vehicle production and R&D in India to reduce reliance on imported technology.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sajjan Jindal
- Also: Wikidata — Sajjan Jindal · CC0
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