Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 26 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of more than $365 billion as on March 31, 2024.

With the death of Ratan Tata,, the popular assumption is that overall control of the Tata group, as opposed to the day-to-day running of the business house which is in the capable hands of Tata Sons chairperson Natarajan Chandrasekaran, will automatically pass on to Ratan’s half-brother Noel Tata. But things are not so clear cut. Like many before him, Ratan did not leave a clear line of succession on who should inherit his mantle — unless he wrote something in his will. He also did not personally own shares in Tata Sons which he could bequeath to an heir.