Fortune India 40 Under 40: The brilliant young minds driving India’s next growth wave

For a country that has the largest young population in the world, and where about 65% of its people are under the age of 35, it is hardly surprising that young minds will be critical in powering India’s journey towards developed nation status.

India’s entrepreneurial energy today is the toast of the world, with the country’s startup ecosystem the third largest globally. Whether it is technology, innovation, or new ideas, young Indians are driving not just the nation’s progress but also contributing to some of the biggest and best enterprises across the globe.

Fortune India’s much-awaited annual 40 Under 40 list—the definitive compendium of the finest young business minds in the country—is evidence of what Indians under the age of 40 have achieved. With the Narendra Modi government also underscoring the importance of youth in contributing to the Viksit Bharat ambition, the 40 Under 40 list serves as a key marker in that journey.

Indeed, the power of young minds to come up with groundbreaking ideas is limitless. As this year’s list shows, ideas and enterprise can come from a wide range of young Indians—from across the length and breadth of the country, and from a variety of sectors.

If you thought the new generation from storied business groups is simply continuing on paths set earlier, there’s a surprise in store. Not only are the young scions of India’s biggest business families growing existing businesses into giants, they are also charting bold new courses into the businesses of tomorrow. Armed with a keen understanding of cutting-edge technology and a deep passion for innovation, they are making their mark in their own right.

If Akash Ambani is setting a scorching pace of growth for Jio in the telecom sector—matching the scale and ambition of Reliance—Parth Jindal is expanding the JSW Group through strategic diversification and acquisitions. He’s driving modernisation through technology, transitioning traditional businesses to green alternatives, and building the group’s cement and paints businesses from scratch, all while playing a key role in the growth of the electric vehicles segment.

Then there’s Aman Mehta of Torrent Pharma, who has just completed a bold acquisition of JB Chemicals in a mega ₹18,000–19,000 crore deal. There’s no stopping these young guns.

Even as these next-gen leaders power ahead, a new wave of young entrepreneurs is coming up with equally audacious and exciting ideas. Sagar Daryani is on a roll with Wow! Momo—launching around 20 stores a month and taking his fast-growing brand national in a big way. “If Domino’s can sell a ₹300 pizza in 500 cities, we can sell ₹100 momos in 5,000,” he tells us.

Then there’s Palak Shah, who is taking Banarasi saris global with her Ekaya Banaras brand, while Ayush Bathwal and Anirudh Sharma are playing a key role in India’s coffee revolution with their brand Third Wave Coffee.

And if you thought the maverick movie star Ranveer Singh was just an extremely talented actor, think again. Singh is making waves in the entrepreneurial circuit with his sexual wellness brand Bold Care, and healthy snacking brand SuperYou, in his role as co-founder. He tells us he’s excited to do more.

If these super-smart, tech-savvy young minds are anything to go by, Indian enterprise is in very safe hands. More power to them!