MIDSIZE MUSCLE -Fortune India Next 500 Discussions on the economy in corporate circles these days invariably revolve around whether and how the growth momentum can be sustained, the problems of employment generation, the health of banks, and how, despite the government’s initiatives to make the business environment easier, several challenges still remain. Many of these issues are particularly true and relevant for midsize and smaller companies, which continue to battle on and seek growth opportunities, despite the roadblocks. In this context, the Fortune India Next 500, the definitive ranking of the country’s largest midsize companies, assumes special significance. Now in its fourth year, the Next 500 is our annual deep dive into all aspects of midsize firms as we slice and dice their revenue and profit figures, look at how the markets value them if they are listed, and which among these companies have successfully created value over a period of time. This Next 500 list is the result of months of painstaking number-crunching by associate editor and editor lists Rajiv Bhuva, who leaves no stone unturned to ensure we get you every dimension of the data at our disposal. In the process, several trends emerge, which are significant pointers to not just the health of the companies but also the state of the economy. After all, it is the midsize companies that are known as major job creators and add significant heft to the country’s GDP. Their health status, therefore, is like taking a peek into the blood report of the economy.