JURY PANEL - BUSINESS

Lt. Gen Dharam Vir Kalra, a distinguished retired officer of the Indian Army, concluded his illustrious thirty-nine-year career as the Director General Ordnance Services in March 1993. Holding an M.Sc. in Defence Studies from Madras University, an M.A. in Political Science, a Master's in Business Administration (Materials), and an MSc in Munitions Technology, along with technical qualifications from the UK, he is a well-rounded scholar. He excelled in various military institutions, including the Defence Services Staff College, the Long Defence Management Course, and the National Defence College. Adept in logistics and supply chain management, he co-authored a textbook with American authors on the subject. Gen Kalra, a visiting faculty member at renowned institutions, received the Ati Vishisht Seva and Param Vishisht Seva Medals from the President of India in 1988 and 1992, respectively. Currently pursuing a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies, he remains dedicated to the field.

Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, widely hailed as the Father of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of corporate responsibility. His instrumental role in formulating and issuing CSR guidelines for Public Sector Enterprises in 2010 and shaping Section 135 of the Companies Act in 2013 showcases his pioneering contributions. As the Director General & CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), he led the National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR) with visionary zeal.

Over the past decade, Dr. Chatterjee has been a prominent voice on CSR and Sustainability on numerous national and international platforms. Actively engaged with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he collaborates closely with the United Nations Global Compact and Niti Aayog. Serving on the United Nations Global Compact Governing Council, he aligns with major initiatives on sustainability, SDGs, and ESG.

In his current capacity as CEO, the Anil Agarwal Foundation (Vedanta Group), Dr. Chatterjee drives initiatives aimed at achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050, environmental stewardship, and innovative, greener business models. His leadership extends to the National Committee formulating Indian National Standards for ESG, overseeing CSR activities across 14 Business Units at the Vedanta Group, and supervising National Priority Programs focused on education, nutrition, rural health, animal welfare, and women's empowerment. His commitment to sustainable development resonates through every facet of his influential career.

Ranjit Gupta is a prominent figure in the renewable energy sector with a rich history of leadership and innovation. He is currently serving as the Founder & CEO of Ocior Energy, where he leads the development, construction, ownership, and operation of Green Hydrogen and Ammonia facilities, along with the renewable energy sources required for producing these eco-friendly fuels. 

Under his leadership, Ocior Energy is actively engaged in various projects, including the pre-development of initiatives in Egypt and Odisha, India, as well as projects with signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, India. 

Prior to this, Ranjit was the CEO of Azure Power, a leading Solar IPP in India with an operating portfolio of approx. 3000 MW. At that time he was also the Chair of the FIICI Renewable Energy CEO Council. Ranjit has previously co-founded two successful Renewable Energy platforms which were primarily Wind Energy projects – Ostro Energy and Orange Renewables. Ranjit’s foray in the Power Sector started as the founding CEO of the power business of the Indiabulls group.

Ranjit started his career in the Oil & Gas industry spending over a decade at Schlumberger which is one the world’s leading O&G Services companies. 

His contributions to the renewable energy industry and expertise in various sectors make him a notable leader in driving sustainable, eco-friendly solutions for a cleaner future.

Shri Balesh Kumar, with a distinguished career spanning 36 years in government service, assumed the role of Member of the Appellate Tribunal (PMLA, FEMA, PBPTA, NDPSA, SAFEMA) on September 1, 2022. His extensive expertise lies in policy formulation and implementation, particularly in areas like indirect taxation, enforcement, and human resource development.

Notable achievements include his pivotal role in establishing anti-smuggling formations on the Indo-Pak border of Rajasthan 1989, setting – up of International Air Courier Terminal in Delhi and introducing risk management techniques for passenger facilitation at International Airports during economic liberalization. Shri Kumar’s contributions extend to restructuring the Enforcement Directorate and towards the successful completion of the Mutual Evaluation of India’s Money Laundering Regime by the FATF, leading to India’s FATF membership in June 2010. 

He has held various key positions, including Member (Investigation/Information Technology) at the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Principal Director General of the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence, and Director General of the Directorate of Human Resource Management. His international publications and awards underscore his contributions to the field. Shri Balesh Kumar also pursued a short-term course in Public Policy at Syracuse University, USA. He completed his education in economics, law, and post-graduation from Delhi University, St. Stephen's College, and Delhi School of Economics, respectively.