MUMBAI: They did not just survive; they stood stronger through the year helping India emerge as a global giant. It is time to honour them as NDTV announces the seventh edition of the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards. India‘s premier platform to recognize corporate and entrepreneurial excellence, this year, the awards will salute the business leaders whose relentless pursuit of excellence has fuelled India‘s journey to the forefront of the world economy.

The Award ceremony will be a high powered event with the cr?me de la cr?me of corporate India attending it and will be graced by Honourable Union Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee as Chief Guest in Mumbai on January 7, 2012.

Announcing the seventh edition of the awards, Manvi Dhillon, Managing Editor of NDTV Profit said, "2011 was an extremely challenging year for corporate India. Despite the global headwinds and the domestic challenges, India Inc stood steady. The evidence lies in the fact that India is still one of the fastest growing economies in the world. We, at NDTV, are proud to announce the seventh edition of the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards to recognize and honour the most resilient and the strongest business leaders of this year."

Partnering NDTV for the most credible awards, Rasesh Kanakia‘s Chairman and Managing Director, Kanakia Group said "2011 was a year of economic challenges; some of them being of the kind that could wither the roots of any business house, small, medium or big, as market volatility (affected by Global Economic slowdown) led to uncertainties thus slowing down growth plans. Consumers became tougher to appease, Investors got conservative in taking decisions and business houses got more aggressive to sustain their growth and move ahead. All in all, it was a year where success got elusive; treading its path became extraordinary. But nevertheless, the Indian Business Leadership took it up as a worthy challenge and we can all see that in spite of the ascend getting only steeper, Indian Business has shown the character and the courage to have sustained well. In some cases we have witnessed extraordinary success as well. Having been a witness to such a strong show of character, it only makes us, the Kanakia Group, proud to associate with NDTV Profit in honouring some of these extraordinary business leaders. As a business group, we are proud to be in company of such par excellence leaderships. Kanakia salutes the Indian spirit; Kanakia salutes "The India Way" of business leadership."

The jury for the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards this year comprised of leading names from the industry and the business world, such as Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head, HSBC India, T.N. Ninan, Chairman and Editorial Director, Business Standard, Kalpana Morparia, CEO, J P Morgan, India, Shanti Ekambaram, Group Head Wholesale Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Zia Mody, Senior Partner, AZB & Partners, Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV, Dorab Sopariwala, Editorial Advisor, NDTV, Manvi Dhillon, Managing Editor, NDTV Profit.

After a rigorous screening and discussion amongst the eminent jury members they have determined the winners in categories that include Automobile (Four Wheelers and Two Wheelers), Aviation, Banking (Public and Private), Consumer Durables, Consumer Product Goods, Engineering, Hospitality, Infrastructure and Insurance Life, Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion and Diversity Award 2011 who would be awarded at the Gala awards ceremony.