Aditya Vikram Birla - May 2025 Edition 21

The legacy of the Birla family and the Cosmic Birla Group is deeply intertwined with the vision and resilience of its founding figures. The journey began with the late R.S. Birla, a luminary whose business acumen and societal contributions laid a strong foundation for future generations. Born on October 2, 1934, in Pilani, Rajasthan, R.S. Birla played a pivotal role in shaping the industrial landscape of India. His illustrious career saw him occupy key positions within the G.D. Birla Group, where he spearheaded transformative initiatives for CIMMCO International, Gwalior Suitings, and Jiyajeerao Cottons—his unwavering commitment to excellence set new benchmarks for business innovation and success.

In 1975, R.S. Birla’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found the Cosmic Birla Group alongside Deo Kishan Mohta. A shared vision of innovation, sustainability, and impact drove their partnership. Under their leadership, Cosmic Birla Group emerged as a powerhouse, revolutionizing industries and making a meaningful difference in various sectors. Later, Ravi Kumar Birla furthered this legacy by playing a crucial role in the establishment of the Ferro Alloy plant in 2005. His expertise in procurement, production, sales, and marketing significantly contributed to the expansion and success of the group.

Today, Aditya carries forward this illustrious legacy with a renewed sense of purpose and dynamism. Having joined the family business in 2011, his journey has been one of resilience, learning, and transformation. Reflecting on his evolution, Aditya shares, “I joined the family business around 2011, so it’s been 13 years now. If you ask me about my journey, though, I feel I truly found my footing in business only after 2017 or 2018. Before that, the market crash in steel between 2012 and 2017-18 presented significant challenges. We faced tough times and had to overcome several pain points.”

The turbulent years of economic uncertainty forced Aditya to expand his expertise beyond marketing, sales, and manufacturing. “During this period, I had to learn about financing and banking—areas I hadn’t been exposed to before, despite my experience in marketing, sales, and manufacturing. I was 27 at the time, and thankfully, I managed to navigate through it. This experience exposed me rapidly to the financial and capital markets, giving me a comprehensive understanding of how these aspects interplay.” His ability to adapt and absorb knowledge swiftly became a defining trait of his leadership.

Under the astute leadership of Aditya Vikram Birla, Chairman & Managing Director, Cosmic Birla Group has evolved into a powerhouse of innovation and excellence, operating through a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries. With 22 companies, 14 factories and over 1,000 employees—both direct and indirect—the group is a testament to Aditya’s strategic expansion and unwavering commitment to growth.

At the heart of this industrial giant is Cosmic CRF Ltd, the group’s publicly traded flagship entity listed on the BSE. The company has reported exceptional growth in the first half of the financial year 2024-25, with a 37.19% year-on-year increase in revenue, a 136.03% surge in EBITDA, and a staggering 172.33% rise in PAT. Such impressive financial strides underscore the effectiveness of Birla’s leadership and the firm’s strong market positioning.

Beyond its flagship entity, the group’s strategic expansion includes a wide range of associated companies, including AVB Entech, Comet Technocom, Comet Tradecom, Prilika Enterprise, Asansol Steel, Cosmic Rail Solutions Ltd, Cosmic Springs & Engineers Ltd, AVB Endeavours Pvt Ltd, Cosmic Castings Ltd, and N S Engineering Pvt Ltd. These businesses span critical sectors such as cold-rolled formed sections, railway components, electrical transmission, defence, infrastructure products like crash barrier, sheet piles, building structures and poles for T&D (power transmission & distribution) further solidifying the group's market dominance. 

A notable highlight in the group’s expansion is Raft Motors Ltd, a venture into the electric vehicle (EV) space that aligns with global sustainability goals. This company was acquired by Cosmic Birla Group in 2024. Prior to takeover, the average annual revenue was Rs 10 crore with a PAT of approx Rs 1 Cr and a Balance Sheet size of 6 cr. Post takeover, within 1 year they were able to achieve a topline of Rs 102 Cr with a PAT of Rs 16.5 Cr and a Balance Sheet size of Rs 100 Cr..  With a robust network of 92 dealers across India and a rapidly growing presence, the company is spearheading India’s EV revolution. Taking a step further in its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives, Raft Cosmic EV has also ventured into leasing and renting EV bikes, forging strategic partnerships with leading delivery aggregators such as Zomato and Swiggy. This initiative not only broadens the company’s reach but also fosters sustainable business practices in the last-mile delivery sector. Birla also holds a major stake in EV two-wheeler rental company Cosmet Fleet Pvt Ltd.

With a keen eye on diversification, the Cosmic Birla Group has ventured into real estate, primary steel goods, and FMCG, demonstrating a holistic approach to industrial growth. Furthermore, being an approved vendor by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) attests to the group’s unwavering commitment to quality and industry standards.

The company is on an aggressive expansion spree, with Cosmic Castings Ltd leading the charge. Plans are underway to establish a cutting-edge greenfield project with an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tons. This project will supply railway products and cater to export-oriented sectors, marking the group’s foray into global markets.

Additionally, Cosmic Birla Group is evolving into an integrated wagon builder, providing complete rail solutions to the Railway Board of India. A state-of-the-art castings facility is being set up in Durgapur, WB, with a planned investment of INR 250 crores. The group also intends to acquire a major liquid metal unit in Barjora, WB, for backward integration, ensuring a steady supply of raw materials for its various engineering concerns.

Furthermore, under Cosmic Springs and Engineers Ltd, the group has invested in a cutting-edge spring manufacturing facility at Jangalpur, WB. This facility will manufacture CANSUB springs and forging items used in railway bogeys and wagons, further strengthening Cosmic Birla Group’s footprint in the rail sector.

Cosmic Birla Group is in the process of acquiring units in Chandigarh and Alwar, Rajasthan with a planned investment of Rs 500 Cr. These units will be developed as world class integrated state of the art facilities for building locomotives, wagons and coaches on the lines of “Vande Bharat Express”.