Tata leaders briefed Indian officials on internal split before Chandrasekaran's departure

In the days before N Chandrasekaran announced he will leave the Tata Sons chair in February, he and Noel Tata each held private briefings with senior government functionaries. Their discussions focused on a strategic and governance rift with Tata Trusts chair Noel Tata, the future of new business initiatives, and doubts over whether Chandrasekaran might be reinstated. They highlighted worries about appointments, the financial setbacks suffered by Air India, Tata’s digital platforms and semiconductor ventures.

Noel Tata’s recent presence in Delhi overlapped with Independence Day and the Parsi New Year, but sources say the visit concerned Trent, the group’s retail subsidiary, and not succession matters; he will relinquish Trent’s non-executive chair in November under the group’s age limit. Government officials listened without taking sides, a practice that is unusual for a private conglomerate not in crisis but reflects the Tata group’s systemic importance. Earlier interactions in 2025 and June 2026 also saw Tata leaders and trustees consulting the government over internal Trust tensions and a potential IPO that could dilute Trust control.