BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is an Indian public sector undertaking (PSU)
under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. It
operates three refineries in Bina, Kochi, and Mumbai. BPCL is India's second-largest
government-owned downstream oil producer, whose operations are overseen by the Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas. BPCL was ranked 309th on the Fortune list of the world's
biggest PSUs in 2020, and 1052nd on Forbes's "Global 2000" list in 2023.
During our visit to BPCL, we engaged with key resource persons, including Ms. Shruti Jain,
Head of Employee Relations and an alumnus of our institution, Mr. Vivek Kumar from HR,
and Mr. John Bosco, Regional HR Head. They provided valuable insights into BPCL's human
resource structure and operations.
BPCL operates through nine Strategic Business Units (SBUs), with its HR department
divided into three core divisions. The Human Resource Development (HRD) division focuses
on policy-making, manpower planning, talent acquisition, and learning and development
(L&D). Embedded HR (E-HR) oversees the execution of HR policies and strategic functions,
ensuring alignment with company goals. The Human Resource Services (HRS) division
manages administration, CSR, employee relations, benefits, and employee development at
both corporate and regional levels, including industrial relations (IR).
BPCL emphasizes learning and development through a combination of in-house and
outsourced programs, utilizing platforms such as MySphere, Disprz, and Kudoz. The
company also promotes job enlargement and enrichment as part of its career progression
strategies.
To streamline HR processes, BPCL uses Darwin Box for performance management (PMS),
talent management, succession planning, and competency mapping. Recruitment is
centralized, with all hiring managed by the HRD division in Bombay.
BPCL has also integrated URJA, an AI-powered tool, to assist employees with queries,
further enhancing HR's efficiency and responsiveness.
This visit highlighted BPCL’s structured HR approach, commitment to employee
development, and its effective use of technology to support its workforce.
STAR CEMENT

Star Cement Limited is the leading cement company in North-Eastern India and one of the
fastest-growing cement brands in West Bengal & Bihar, acquiring a strong foothold in the
Indian construction Industry. Star Cement Ltd. has established itself as the most accredited
brand in the region for providing high-quality cement and fair pricing. Spread across 200
hectares of land, the company has its 1.67 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated
cement plant in a strategic location in the idyllic town of Lumshnong in Meghalaya that
ensures easy availability of high-grade limestone.
During our visit to Star Cement, we had the opportunity to interact with key resource persons,
including Mr. Samar Banerjee, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and an alumnus
from the 1995 batch, and Mr. Anand Dutta, Head of the Center of Excellence (COE) for
Learning and Development. Their insights offered a comprehensive understanding of Star
Cement's HR strategies and initiatives.
With a workforce of over 3,800 employees, Star Cement's HR framework is built around
three key pillars:
1. Talent: Talent management at Star Cement is driven by a competency-based
assessment model, which evaluates employees based on five core competencies and
five leadership competencies. This framework helps in identifying top talent and is
crucial for succession planning within the organization.
2. Organization: The company places a strong emphasis on HR automation and process
simplification across various functions, including performance management systems
(PMS), learning management systems (LMS), and payroll operations, ensuring
smooth and efficient HR processes.
3. Culture: Star Cement is committed to building capacity and enhancing the employee
experience, focusing on creating a supportive and growth-oriented work culture.
AI plays a vital role in enhancing HR efficiency. HR Mitra, a query assistant, allows
employees to inquire about policies such as leave entitlements, simplifying access to
information. Another AI tool, Amber, conducts mood surveys for employees after completing
the onboarding process, offering valuable insights into employee engagement and well-being.
The company also has a robust reward and recognition system. One prominent example is
Star Gurukul, which recognizes and rewards employees for their achievements, fostering a
culture of appreciation and motivation.
This visit to Star Cement highlighted their forward-thinking approach to HR, focusing on
talent management, employee engagement, and the use of technology to enhance the overall
employee experience.

ITC – FOOD DIVISION

ITC's Branded Packaged Foods business is one of the fastest growing food businesses in
India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands -
Aashirvaad, Sunrise, Bingo! Sunfeast, Fabelle, Sunbean, Yippee! Kitchens of India, B
Natural, ITC Master Chef, Farmland, mint-o, Candyman, Jelimals and GumOn. The Foods
business is today represented in multiple categories in the market - Staples, Spices, Biscuits,
Confectionery & Gums, Snacks, Noodles & Pasta, Beverages, Dairy, Ready to Eat Meals,
Chocolate, Coffee, and Frozen Foods.
During our visit to ITC, we had the opportunity to interact with key HR personnel, including
Mr. Abhijeet Parth, Ms. Rumki, and Mr. Vivek, all from the HR team. Their insights provided
a detailed understanding of the company's workforce, operations, and compliance with
government regulations.
ITC has a manpower strength of 1,200 employees, with a significant focus on promoting
gender diversity in manufacturing. 28% of the workforce in manufacturing consists of female
employees, and the company operates four women-majority factories, a progressive step
towards gender inclusion in the sector.
The company operates in three shifts, which are facilitated by special permission from the
government of West Bengal, ensuring continuous production while adhering to legal
requirements.
In terms of employee benefits, ITC complies fully with government regulations, offering:
  Regular health checkups and vaccinations for all employees.
 Health and disability insurance for employees earning over Rs 12,000 per month.
 Coverage for all employees under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, ensuring
healthcare and insurance support.
During our visit, we were also given a tour of ITC’s Aaata plant, where we observed the
entire production process, from the handling of raw materials to the final packaging of the
products. This provided us with a first-hand view of ITC’s commitment to efficiency and
quality in its manufacturing operations.
This visit highlighted ITC’s dedication to employee welfare, gender diversity, and operational
excellence in compliance with government standards.

RELIANCE JIO

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited is an Indian telecommunications company and a subsidiary

of Jio Platforms, headquartered in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. It operates a national LTE
network with coverage across all 22 telecom circles. Jio offers 5G, 4G, and 4G+ services all
over India. Its 6G service is in the works. Jio was soft-launched on 27 December 2015 with a
beta for partners and employees and became publicly available on 5 September 2016. It is the
largest mobile network operator in India and the third largest mobile network operator in the
world with over 46.72 crore (467.2 million) subscribers.
During our industry visit to Reliance Jio's Kolkata office, we met Mr. Ashish Jaiswal, an alum
from the 1999 batch, who gave us a brief overview of Reliance Jio's operations. He shared
that the company serves 480 million customers and operates across more than 300,000 sites.
Reliance Jio employs 125,000 direct employees and partners with many others, contributing
significantly to Reliance Industries' position as the largest private-sector employer. The
company generates daily revenue of ₹300 crore and contributes 50% of EBITDA to Reliance
Industries.
We also participated in a Q&A session with two other alumni from Reliance Jio’s HR
department. They discussed topics like performance management, talent acquisition, training,
and employee benefits. A key highlight was Jio's focus on appreciating employees whose
behavior aligns with the core values of the organization. The HR team emphasized that all
policies and programs are designed to reinforce these values, making it a central part of their
corporate culture.