From the time we started bringing out the Fortune India 500 (the first was back in 2010), there have been a few constants on the list. One, Indian Oil has consistently ranked at No. 1. And two, there are always Tata companies in the top 10; this year, there are three. Between them, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Consultancy Services, account for revenue of Rs 5,17,054.1 crore (almost 20% of the total revenue of Rs 21,15,716.9 crore of the top 10). Overall, there are 14 Tata companies on this list, which together account for 9.2% of the total revenue of the 500 and 9.4% of the profit. If ever proof was needed that the Tata Group is important to India Inc., this is it, which is why a sudden vacancy at the top is cause for concern for more than just the group.

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the companies in the group. Senior editor Kunal N. Talgeri has been tracking Tata Communications for some years now, and says chairman Vinod Kumar has put together a global team to run a global business. Catch this story on page 98

Another Tata company, Titan, finds itself in an odd position. Watches, once synonymous with the company’s name and fortunes, have been sidelined by the jewellery business under the Tanishq brand. With Favre-Leuba, the company hopes to keep the watches business ticking. More of this story on page 88

At EIH, P.R.S. ‘Biki’ Oberoi has been making some audacious moves, including shutting The Oberoi in Delhi for renovation. Associate editor Pavan Lall meets the legendary hotelier and says the octogenarian has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to keep his hotels business going strong. Read this interesting story on page 84

The December issue the most awaited issue for our annual list of Fortune India 500 largest corporations of India, must catch it on page 110