Business Standard
An Indian English-language business newspaper covering companies, markets, public policy, economics, and finance.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Business Standard is an Indian business-news publishing brand whose principal product is an English-language daily newspaper, accompanied by a digital news operation and a Hindi edition. Established in 1975, the publication covers the Indian economy, public policy, infrastructure, companies, financial markets, international trade, corporate governance, taxation, technology, and related areas of business and economic life. Its editorial output combines daily reporting with market information, analysis, opinion, interviews, and explanatory coverage for professional and financially engaged readers. The newspaper began under the Kolkata-based ABP Group. During its early decades, circulation increased but the operation also accumulated substantial losses, creating pressure on its owner to find outside capital or a buyer. In 1997, Business Times was acquired by Kotak Mahindra Finance in a transaction associated with Uday Kotak. The acquisition separated the newspaper from its earlier ownership structure and provided the financial backing for a turnaround. Business Standard subsequently developed a distinct position in India's business-media market, competing with publications such as The Economic Times and Mint. The brand's English edition is produced through a network of regional centres, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, and Kochi. The publication has stated that its print reach extends to more than 1,000 towns and cities across India. Delhi has traditionally been important for coverage of government and economic policy, while Mumbai has been especially significant for corporate, financial, and capital-market reporting. Other bureaux contribute regional, industrial, and political coverage, although the size and distribution of the reporting network have changed over time. Business Standard has been associated with several influential Indian business journalists and editors. T. N. Ninan served as editor from 1993 to 2009 and later became chairman and editorial director of Business Standard Limited. Sanjaya Baru succeeded him as editor in 2010, followed by Ashok K. Bhattacharya after Baru's departure in 2011. The publication has also been led by Shailesh Dobhal and, according to the supplied reference material, Vikas Dhoot. Its editorial identity has generally emphasized policy literacy, financial reporting, institutional analysis, and a relatively specialist readership rather than mass-market general news. The newspaper has faced the structural pressures affecting print media in India, including changing readership habits, competition from other financial newspapers, the migration of advertising and news consumption to digital platforms, and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Readership surveys cited in reference material placed it among India's leading financial newspapers, although its ranking and audience measures varied by survey period. During the pandemic, the publication reportedly reduced staffing substantially, including the dismissal of nearly 100 employees, with a significant share coming from editorial teams. Business Standard remains an active Indian business-media brand with both print and digital distribution, but detailed current ownership, financial, circulation, and staffing figures are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Business Standard was founded in 1975 as an Indian business newspaper and initially operated under the Kolkata-based ABP Group. Its editorial mission centred on business, finance, economic policy, and corporate affairs, areas that became increasingly important as India's private sector, financial markets, and economic institutions expanded. The publication's reporting eventually covered not only company and market news but also infrastructure, international trade, public administration, governance, and economic reform. Although circulation grew, the newspaper incurred substantial losses during its early ownership period. The losses became serious enough that ABP explored the possibility of bringing in outside investment, including a potential investment connected with the Financial Times. The publication was ultimately separated from the earlier group structure and acquired in 1997 by Kotak Mahindra Finance. The deal was associated with Uday Kotak, who later described the newspaper as a distressed but potentially recoverable asset. The new backing enabled Business Standard to continue operating and develop a stronger presence in India's specialist financial-news market. T. N. Ninan was editor from 1993 to 2009 and became chairman and editorial director of Business Standard Limited in 2010. Sanjaya Baru then became editor, having previously served as media adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After Baru left in 2011 to join a United Kingdom-based think tank, long-serving Business Standard journalist Ashok K. Bhattacharya took charge of the newspaper. Later editorial leadership included Shailesh Dobhal and Vikas Dhoot, identified in the supplied reference material as the current editor. The publication expanded its reporting and production footprint across India. Its English-language edition has been associated with regional centres in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, and Kochi. Delhi has been particularly important for government and policy reporting, while Mumbai has served as a major base for corporate, financial, and share-market coverage. The newspaper has also maintained a Hindi edition and a digital operation, allowing the brand to reach readers beyond the traditional English-language print audience. For many years, Business Standard was described as India's second-largest business daily by circulation. Its relative position later weakened as competition intensified and audiences shifted toward digital media. Indian Readership Survey figures cited in the reference material placed it fourth among financial newspapers by one readership measure in 2019 and third by another, while a subsequent quarterly survey was described as showing a recovery in readership. Such measures are survey-specific and do not establish a single definitive current circulation figure. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the pressures on the newspaper industry. Business Standard reportedly dismissed almost 100 employees, nearly half of them from editorial functions, and reduced staffing in a number of reporting locations. The changes reflected wider cost and revenue pressures affecting print journalism, although the brand continued its print and digital publishing activities. Business Standard remains an active Indian business-media property with national ambitions and a specialist editorial identity. Current ownership, financial performance, exact circulation, and staffing levels require verification from up-to-date corporate or publisher disclosures.
- 2020
Pandemic-era staffing reductions
[1]The publication reportedly dismisses nearly 100 employees, including a substantial number of editorial staff.
- 2011
Ashok K. Bhattacharya takes editorial charge
[1]Ashok K. Bhattacharya succeeds Sanjaya Baru after Baru leaves the newspaper.
- 2010
Sanjaya Baru becomes editor
[1]Sanjaya Baru succeeds T. N. Ninan as editor.
- 2009
Ninan leaves the editorship
[1]T. N. Ninan concludes his tenure as editor before becoming chairman and editorial director of Business Standard Limited.
- 1997
Kotak Mahindra Finance acquires the newspaper
[1]Kotak Mahindra Finance purchases Business Standard after the publication experiences sustained losses under ABP ownership.
- 1993
T. N. Ninan becomes editor
[1]T. N. Ninan begins a long editorial tenure that continues until 2009.
- 1975
Business Standard is founded
[1]The Indian business newspaper begins publication under the ownership of the ABP Group.
Products and positioning
A specialist, high-end Indian business-news publication serving readers interested in companies, markets, public policy, economics, and finance.
Print newspaper · 1975
Business Standard English daily
The flagship English-language daily covers Indian companies, financial markets, economic policy, infrastructure, international business, trade, corporate governance, and public-sector developments. It is produced through a network of Indian regional centres and distributed across a broad national print market.
Digital news
Business Standard digital
The brand's website publishes business and economic reporting in digital form, including breaking news, company coverage, market information, analysis, interviews, opinion, and explanatory material. It extends the newspaper's specialist editorial proposition beyond the print edition.
Hindi newspaper
Business Standard Hindi edition
Business Standard also publishes a Hindi edition, broadening the brand's reach among Indian readers who prefer business and economic news in Hindi. Detailed current circulation and distribution information is not established by the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2020
Reduce staffing during the pandemicStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the revenue and operating pressures facing Indian print journalism.
Action taken
Business Standard reportedly dismissed nearly 100 employees and reduced reporting capacity in several locations.
Aftermath
The reductions affected editorial staffing and the footprint of some regional bureaux, while the publication continued its print and digital operations.
1997
Accept acquisition by Kotak Mahindra FinanceM&ABackground
The newspaper was experiencing substantial losses under ABP Group ownership, creating pressure for a sale or new capital.
Action taken
Kotak Mahindra Finance acquired Business Standard in a transaction associated with Uday Kotak.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave the publication new financial backing and allowed it to continue developing as an independent specialist business-news brand.
Sources2 sources
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