PRESS RELEASE

13 September 2004

Banaras Hindu University confers D.Litt on Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla

The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has conferred the D.Litt degree (honoris causa) on Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, The Aditya Birla Group "in recognition of the yeomen services rendered by him to the Indian Industry".

Prof. P. Ramachandra Rao, the Vice Chancellor of BHU bestowed this degree on Mr. Birla at the 86th convocation of the Banaras Hindu University held on 12 September 2004.

The decision to grant this prestigious award to Mr. Birla was made by the academic council which is the highest body of the BHU. Mr. Birla's "visionary leadership, entrepreneurial acumen, highest business ethics and exemplary contribution to fostering corporate governance in Indian business" were commended by the academia. Mr. Birla has the distinction of being the youngest professional to have received such an honour.

Earlier in 2002, the governing board of the London Business School conferred the title of 'Honorary Fellow' on him at the school's congregation. Dr. Birla also serves on the London Business School's Asia-Pacific Regional Advisory Board, which provides counsel on the school's strategy and curriculum.

Other positions that he holds in the field of education include being Director on the board of the G.D. Birla Medical Research and Education Foundation, a member on the Board of Governors of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani and the prestigious Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad.