Tata, credited with expanding and diversifying the conglomerate, had been in critical condition at a hospital in Mumbai.
Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, died in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.
Tata was in critical condition and was under intensive care at a hospital in Mumbai, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
On Monday, Tata had said in a social media post that he was undergoing routine medical check-ups due to his age and related medical conditions.
Tata joined the family-run business in 1961, where he worked on the shop floor of Tata Steel. He went on to succeed JRD Tata as the chairperson of the Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, in 1991. He held the position till 2012 and again for a brief period between 2016 and 2017.
He was credited with expanding and diversifying the conglomerate. His tenure saw the Tata Group acquire global brands such as British beverage manufacturer Tetley, multinational automaker Jaguar Land Rover and European steel giant Corus.
Tata also invested in several startups in his personal capacity through his investment firm.
In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour in India.
