Anant Ambani steps into spotlight as Reliance pushes ‘India-first’ vision

MUMBAI: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Friday urged India to adopt an “India-first model of development” as he set out the conglomerate’s growth plans at its annual general meeting, while his youngest son Anant Ambani took the stage for the first time as an executive director.

“India is on the rise, and India’s rise is unstoppable,” Ambani told shareholders at the group’s 48th AGM. He said India’s economy could grow at 10 percent annually with the right reforms and investments, multiplying per capita income up to five times within 20 years.

Ambani said the Reliance model would focus on deep technology, advanced manufacturing and green energy while harmonising “technology with democracy” and “economy with culture.” He added that recent global shocks had underlined the need for India to build economic strength and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

Anant Ambani’s debut

The AGM also marked the first major appearance of Anant Ambani, 29, who unveiled plans for a giant clean energy complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The facility, billed as four times the size of Tesla’s gigafactory, will include a battery manufacturing unit and target production of 3 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually.

The project is part of Reliance’s $10 billion investment push in renewables, as the oil-to-telecoms group seeks to pivot away from fossil fuels. Analysts said Anant’s address was another step in Reliance’s succession process, with Mukesh Ambani gradually handing more responsibilities to his three children.

Court probe into wildlife centre

Anant Ambani has also drawn attention beyond the company. India’s Supreme Court this week ordered an independent inquiry into Vantara, the Jamnagar-based wildlife centre he oversees, following complaints about alleged irregular animal acquisitions and welfare concerns.

A panel led by a retired Supreme Court judge has been asked to submit its report by September 12. Reliance has not responded to the allegations but has previously described Vantara as one of the world’s largest animal rescue and rehabilitation facilities.

Viral social media moment

Separately, a video clip from the Ambani family’s Ganesh Visarjan celebrations went viral on social media. It showed Anant’s wife, Radhika Merchant, playfully throwing flower petals at him, only for a bodyguard to intercept them, sparking a wave of memes.

The combination of Reliance’s new energy announcements, the Supreme Court probe and the viral clip have made Anant Ambani one of the most searched names in India over the past week.