Mahindra Group plans to invest nearly Rs 40,000 cr in Karnataka: Anand Mahindra
Bengaluru, Feb 11 (PTI): Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Tuesday announced that the group plans to invest nearly Rs 40,000 crore in Karnataka over the next few years.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Invest Karnataka-2025 summit, he said the Mahindra Group has no hesitation in investing in long-term businesses such as renewable energy, aerospace, hospitality, and real estate in Karnataka.
"It gives me great pleasure to state here today that the Mahindra Group is planning close to Rs 40,000 crore of investment in Karnataka in the coming years," Anand Mahindra said.
He noted that Karnataka plays a vital role in the group's renewable energy portfolio. Mahindra Susten intends to invest Rs 35,000 crore to develop over five gigawatts of solar and hybrid projects over the next five years, generating 6,000-8,000 new jobs.
Mahindra Holidays already operates several resorts in Karnataka and is evaluating further expansion into areas like Gokarna and Hampi.
Anand Mahindra said, "We intend to invest an additional Rs 1,000 crore and are in discussions with government officials. I look forward to their support, particularly regarding land aggregation."
He also stated that Mahindra Defence Services and Mahindra Aerospace are exploring strategic expansion opportunities in the state, with investments of several hundred crores planned.
As a key step in the group's mission to electrify India's last-mile industry, Karnataka serves as the hub for Mahindra's ambition to remain the market leader in the electric three-wheeler space, he said. The company has filed 60 patent applications, 54 trademarks, and 16 design registrations from the state.
"Our last-mile mobility business is deeply rooted in Karnataka, with its R&D, product development, and manufacturing units based here," he added.
Mahindra Lifespaces, the group's real estate arm, is currently developing projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore in Bengaluru and plans to invest an additional Rs 6,000 crore in the near future.
Highlighting the Mahindra Group's deep-rooted relationship with Karnataka, Anand Mahindra drew parallels to the lessons he learned at the Kodagu coffee plantation.
"Our involvement with Karnataka is deeply rooted and firmly intertwined. Most of our businesses, including the jewels in our corporate crown—automotive, IT, farm equipment, financial services, and hospitality—have operations here. Our group directly employs over 25,000 people," he said.
He further stated that the Mahindra Group's relationship with Karnataka has flourished over the years, thanks to the nurturing, encouragement, and support provided by the Government of Karnataka. Policies such as the New Industrial Policy and the Global Capability Centres (GCCs) Policy reflect this supportive outlook. "This approach to business gives us confidence in our future here," he added.
Pointing out that Karnataka is deeply intertwined with his childhood memories due to his family's close connection with Kodagu, Anand Mahindra recalled spending a lot of time in the village of Kutta in the late 1960s, when his parents took on the challenge of developing a working coffee plantation from scratch.
"Eventually, although they came from Punjab and later moved to Mumbai, I believe that, at the end of their lives, my parents were happiest in Kutta. So, while I come here today as an investor, first and foremost, I'm just a Kodagu boy coming home," he said.
Noting that he learned the basics of coffee cultivation simply by observing, Anand Mahindra reflected that, in hindsight, those years on the coffee plantation were transformative.
"Watching that coffee grow taught me life lessons that have shaped me both as an adult and as a business leader. I have a lot to thank Karnataka for," he said.
Explaining that he has carried three major lessons from coffee growing into his life, Anand Mahindra stated that successful coffee cultivation requires bushes to be carefully planted and deeply rooted—a principle that also applies to business and personal relationships.
Another key aspect of coffee growing, he said, is that plants need support to grow, as coffee bushes thrive under the shelter of shade-giving trees. Similarly, people and businesses flourish when nurtured and supported by those who can provide guidance and protection.
He further emphasised that growing up on the plantation taught him patience, noting that coffee does not yield returns overnight.
"It teaches you to have faith—faith in the future and belief that hard work will pay off. The returns are worth the long gestation period, whether in life or business," he said.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
