In a major recognition of industrial excellence, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, has been bestowed with the prestigious Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Quality Ratna Award for 2025. The award was announced during the 33rd CII Excellence Summit in Kolkata on 18 November 2025, where industry leaders, policymakers and quality-management experts gathered to chart India’s manufacturing and quality roadmap.
Srinivasan’s entire career has been marked by a steadfast commitment to quality leadership, making this recognition an urgent symbol of India’s ambition to elevate its manufacturing capabilities globally.
A Legacy Built on Quality in Manufacturing
Venu Srinivasan has been a pioneer of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Indian manufacturing. Under his leadership, TVS Motor became one of the first Indian two-wheeler companies to adopt global quality standards, eventually securing the Deming Prize in 2002—an exceptional feat for a non-Japanese firm.
His philosophy emphasised that quality isn’t just an outcome—it’s embedded in culture. Employee involvement, customer‐centred design, relentless process improvement and trust‐based leadership have been the hallmarks of his tenure.
In his acceptance speech, Srinivasan stated:
“Designs should be led by customer needs; trust and employee ownership come first. Only then will value be built into every product and service we deliver.”
This ethos not only propelled TVS into global competitiveness but also set a benchmark for Indian manufacturing at large.
Why the CII Quality Ratna Award Matters
The CII Quality Ratna Award is among India’s highest industrial recognitions, awarded to leaders who demonstrate exceptional and sustained contributions in quality, operational excellence and the advancement of industry standards.
This year’s selection of Srinivasan signals two strategic priorities:
- Recognising individual quality leadership as a driver of national competitiveness;
- Reaffirming India’s goal to move from a manufacturing share of around 3% of global output toward a target of 25%, while creating tens of millions of jobs.
At the 33rd CII Excellence Summit, the broader theme underscored was how “quality leadership, innovation and inclusive growth” will position India among the top three manufacturing hubs globally.
Impact on India’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
Scaling Quality for Export Competitiveness
Quality is no longer just a domestic concern—it is the key differentiator for exports. Leaders like Srinivasan provide the blueprint for India’s firms to compete globally not just on cost, but on precision, reliability and sustainability.
Driving Employment Through Quality Excellence
With India aiming to create around 100 million jobs in the manufacturing sector, embedding quality systems, continuous improvement and employee ownership become critical levers for both productivity and employment growth.
Innovation and Design Focus
Srinivasan’s shift from raw manufacturing to design led processes reflects the broader trend: Indian firms must move from assembler status to creators of world-class products. His belief that technology and social aspiration shape new products underscores the changing nature of manufacturing.
What Sets Srinivasan Apart
There are several distinguishing traits in Venu Srinivasan’s leadership which explain his selection for this award:
- Early Adopter of Quality Systems: He introduced world-class quality frameworks when the Indian industry was at a nascent stage in this regard.
- Employee-Centred Culture: Unlike traditional command-and-control models, his approach emphasised trust, empowerment and continuous improvement.
- Customer-Centric Product Strategy: Rather than focusing solely on cost, his emphasis has been on value delivery and life-time service.
- Global Recognition: Beyond domestic market success, his companies met and exceeded international benchmarks—raising the bar for Indian industry.
These factors combined have made Srinivasan not just a business leader but a quality ambassador for Indian manufacturing.
What the Award Symbolises for India’s Future
For India to achieve its manufacturing and employment goals by 2030 and beyond, recognition of leaders like Srinivasan does more than celebrate an individual—it provides inspiration, shows direction, and signals to the global industry the seriousness of India’s goals.
It sends a strong message to domestic enterprises: quality leadership is strategic leadership. It underlines that to scale globally, Indian companies must embed quality, innovation and design into the core of their operations.
The award also highlights the importance of shifting mindsets—from production volume to product excellence; from assembling to designing; from local markets to global peer competition.
Key Facts to Remember
- Who: Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company.
- What: Recipient of the CII Quality Ratna Award 2025.
- When: Announced on 18 November 2025 at the 33rd CII Excellence Summit in Kolkata.
- Why: For decades of leadership in quality management, pioneering TQM in India, and aligning manufacturing with global standards.
- Significance: Reinforces India’s manufacturing ambition and the strategic role of quality leadership.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Industry and Policy
For Industry
Companies across sectors will look up to this model of quality leadership. Firms will need to invest in:
- Advanced quality systems, AI-driven process monitoring, design thinking
- Talent nurturing for quality culture
- Export-oriented manufacturing with zero defects and high reliability
For Policy Makers
The Indian government and industry bodies such as CII will continue to promote programmes that support quality excellence—such as Lean, Six-Sigma, AI-powered inspection, certification schemes, and skill development.
Recognition of leaders also helps in shaping national narratives about industry transformation—from “Make in India” to “Made by India to Global Standards”.
Conclusion
Venu Srinivasan’s conferment of the CII Quality Ratna Award 2025 is both a personal accolade and a strategic milestone. It anchors the idea that quality leadership drives competitiveness, and that the future of Indian manufacturing depends on leaders who innovate, empower and raise the bar.
As India charts its path toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, the example set by Srinivasan provides a clear roadmap: embed quality in everything you make, design with the customer in mind, empower your teams, and never settle for second-best.
For the Indian industry, the message is emphatic: the era of “good enough” is over—only world-class will do. And Venu Srinivasan’s journey serves as proof that Indian manufacturing can not only match the best—but become the benchmark itself.