Shashwat Sharma will take over as Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India from January 1, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating his 75th birthday on Wednesday, September 17. The day is being marked with enthusiasm across the country, as BJP workers celebrate in grand style. The party has dedicated the occasion to Seva Diwas, with welfare activities such as tree plantation drives, blood donation camps, and cleanliness campaigns nationwide. PM Modi’s political journey is marked by countless achievements. Watch corporate leaders — Uday Kotak, Founder & Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank; Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group; and Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises — share their own ‘Modi Story’.
Post this transaction, ICIL’s holding in Bharti Airtel will fall from 2.47% to 1.67%, although the overall promoter stake in the company will remain significant at over 51%, including stakes held through other entities like Bharti Telecom.
In an exclusive interview with Business Today TV, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and co-Chair of the India–UK CEO Forum, called the India–UK Free Trade Agreement a “truly historic moment.” Speaking to Group Editor Siddharth Zarabi, Mittal highlighted the rare nature of such a balanced FTA between two major economies. Despite political churn in the UK, the agreement was successfully concluded under India's consistent leadership. Mittal, who attended the ceremonial signing, emphasized that the deal is being seen as a “win-win” by both Indian and British business leaders.
In an exclusive conversation with Business Today TV, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and co-Chair of the India–UK CEO Forum, underscored the strategic value of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement. He described it as a “powerful combination,” especially significant for the UK as it charts a new economic path post-Brexit. Mittal noted that while the UK brings cutting-edge technologies and intellectual property in sectors like defense, nuclear energy, space, and biosciences, India offers a vast market, cost-efficient manufacturing, and abundant skilled talent. “There is tremendous complementarity,” he said, adding that both nations bring to the table exactly what the other needs—from green hydrogen to advanced drones and fighter jets—making this a future-oriented, win-win partnership.
India’s biggest trade challenge is now on Washington’s desk. Even as the ink dries on the historic India–UK deal, focus has shifted to a pending India–US trade pact that could unlock a trillion-dollar corridor. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says “fantastic progress” is being made — but Trump’s looming tariff deadline, high-stakes negotiations, and tough issues like Russian oil, digital rights, and dairy protections are keeping the deal in limbo. With another round of talks slated for late August, industry voices like Sunil Bharti Mittal, Ashish Chauhan and Mukesh Aghi weigh in on what it will take to finally seal the pact.
In this exclusive Business Today conversation, Group Editor Siddharth Zarabi speaks with Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Chair of the India-UK CEO Forum, about India’s pending trade deal with the United States and the wave of bilateral pacts reshaping India’s economic future. Mittal explains why this deal could be transformative, how India’s manufacturing sector actually benefits, and why concerns about compromising ‘Make in India’ or ‘Aatma Nirbharta’ are largely misplaced. From high-end imports to MSME exports, this deal could redefine India’s role in global supply chains. But is India giving away too much—or gaining more than most realize?
India and the UK have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at Chequers Estate, witnessed by PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer. Projected to boost bilateral trade by $34 billion annually, the deal grants duty-free access to nearly all Indian exports. Key sectors like agriculture, electronics, and gems are expected to benefit, with Indian farmers gaining access to the UK’s $37.5 billion agri-market. PM Modi hailed new-age tech collaborations, while Starmer termed it the UK’s most significant trade pact since Brexit. Watch Siddharth Zarabi, Group Editor, Business Today, in conversation with Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Co-Chair, India–UK CEO Forum, and Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII — on what the India–UK FTA means for business, investment, and growth.
The agreement, Mittal said, resolves key friction points. These include easing the movement of Indian professionals and removing redundant social security contributions. “That was causing a lot of stress to Indian companies,” he noted.





