- Leadership Legacy: The 2022-23 term led by Sanjiv Bajaj established the critical blueprint for India’s current $5 trillion economy trajectory and fintech integration.
- 2026 Transition: R. Mukundan currently presides over the 2026-27 session, pivoting the CII agenda toward Green Hydrogen and global supply chain realignment.
- Industrial Consistency: Hero MotoCorp has officially maintained its status as the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer for 25 consecutive years as of May 2026.
As India solidifies its position as a global manufacturing and digital powerhouse in 2026, the foundational shifts in corporate governance often trace back to the strategic leadership transitions within the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). On May 12, 2026, the council convened to reflect on the legacy of its 2022-23 office-bearers, a cohort that navigated the post-pandemic recovery and set the stage for the current industrial AI infrastructure boom that is reshaping the subcontinent.
The 2022-23 Pivot: Sanjiv Bajaj’s Presidency
The 2022-23 National Council of the CII marked a significant era of financial and technological advocacy. Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv Ltd, assumed the presidency, succeeding Tata Steel’s T.V. Narendran. Bajaj’s tenure was characterized by an aggressive push for fintech literacy and insurance penetration, leveraging his deep-rooted expertise from the Harvard Business School and the World Economic Forum.
During this period, the CII focused on bridging the gap between traditional manufacturing and the emerging digital economy. Bajaj’s leadership in the National Committees on Insurance & Pensions provided the regulatory foresight needed for the private sector to thrive under the subsequent “India Stack” expansions of the mid-2020s.
Editor’s Note: The 2022-23 leadership bridge was essential for the current 2026 focus on decentralized manufacturing and Green Hydrogen hubs, which now dominate the CII National Agenda.
Strategic Succession: From Bajaj to Mukundan
The continuity of the CII is defined by its tiered leadership transition. As we observe the 2026 landscape, the progression from Sanjiv Bajaj to the current 2026-27 President, R. Mukundan, highlights a clear evolution in industrial priorities. The interim years saw influential terms by R. Dinesh and Sanjiv Puri, each layering specific sector strengths into the national dialogue.
| Year | President | Primary Strategic Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Sanjiv Bajaj | Fintech & Financial Inclusion |
| 2023-24 | R. Dinesh | Supply Chain & Logistics Resilience |
| 2024-25 | Sanjiv Puri | Agriculture & FMCG Digitization |
| 2026-27 | R. Mukundan | Green Hydrogen & Sustainability |
The Multi-Decade Dominance of Hero MotoCorp
A constant throughout these leadership cycles has been the influence of Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp. Taking over as the President-Designate in 2022, Munjal’s legacy is tied to the unprecedented scale of the Indian automotive sector. As of early 2026, Hero MotoCorp has successfully retained its position as the world’s No. 1 two-wheeler company for 25 consecutive years, a feat unmatched in global mobility markets.
Munjal’s earlier work on the CII National Committees for Technology and Innovation paved the way for the industry’s shift toward electric mobility. This transition has been particularly impactful in the logistics and cold storage sectors, where electric two and three-wheelers now handle the “last-mile” delivery of sensitive pharmaceutical and consumer goods.
Infrastructure and Logistics: The R. Dinesh Era
The 2022-23 Vice Presidency of R. Dinesh, Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, proved prophetic. His focus on the Institute of Logistics and the Family Business Network provided the structural stability required for the 2026 “Gati Shakti” initiatives. Dinesh, an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, brought a rigorous fiscal discipline to the CII’s lobbying efforts, ensuring that infrastructure spending remained aligned with global export standards.
“The evolution of the CII office-bearers is not merely a change in personnel, but a recalibration of India’s economic engine to meet the demands of a decarbonized and digitally sovereign world.”
— CII Annual Strategic Review
Looking ahead, the CII continues to integrate broader social goals into its corporate framework. Following Dr. Suchitra K. Ella’s prominent role as Chairperson of the Southern Region and her 2022 Padma Bhushan award, the organization has significantly increased its emphasis on the biotech ecosystem and the #BreakTheBias movement within Indian boardrooms.
As the 2026-27 council begins its session, the foundational work of the 2022 office-bearers remains the bedrock upon which India’s industrial self-reliance—Atmanirbhar Bharat—continues to build its global stature.
