In 1951, India had only five publicly owned enterprises. By March 1991, this number had grown to 246; by March 2016, it had reached 320, with 244 actively operating. The primary aim behind establishing these Public Sector Undertakings (PUSs) was to expedite the growth of essential sectors in the economy, fulfil the equipment requirements of strategically important areas, and create job opportunities while generating income.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) stands as a significant PSU in India, recognised as one of the nation’s largest engineering and manufacturing companies. As a key player in heavy industry, its performance closely correlates with the country’s overall development. BHEL’s supplied equipment accounts for more than 50% of the country’s power generation. The company is involved in designing, engineering, manufacturing, constructing, testing, commissioning, and providing services across a diverse array of products, systems, and services. These cater to core sectors like power, transmission, industry, transportation, renewable energy, oil & gas, defense, electricals, and more.
Key leaders at BHEL steered the company toward sustainable growth through visionary leadership, forming the backbone of the organisation. Jai Prakash Srivastava stands among these leaders, playing a crucial role in establishing BHEL’s reputation within the global heavy industry. Throughout various departments, he maintained efficiency and transparency in the company’s operations.
Jai Prakash’s professional journey with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is a saga of dedication, innovation and visionary leadership. Joining as an Engineering Trainee at Insulator Plant, Jagdishpur, in 1985, he ascended to the role of Director (Engineering, Research & Development) on BHEL’s Board on August 12, 2022, marking the height of a remarkable career expedition.
After graduating from IIT Roorkee in Mechanical Engineering in 1985, Jai Prakash’s academic growth was further enriched by a postgraduate degree in Business Administration, laying the groundwork for a diverse career extending more than three decades.
Jai Prakash’s tenure at BHEL symbolises versatility, showcasing his expertise across crucial roles spanning Marketing & Business Development, Project Management, Manufacturing, Operations, Planning and Development, Engineering, R&D, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, and Strategic and Stakeholder Management. His portfolio reflects an encompassing understanding of BHEL’s intricate value chain.
His leadership as the Head of the Industry Sector notably reinforced BHEL’s diversification goals. Under his guidance, transformative initiatives propelled capability enhancement through strategic collaborations, capital investments, and focused R&D projects. The impact was palpable, leading to unprecedented order bookings and significant forays into previously unexplored sectors like Oil & Gas EPC and Defence & Aerospace.
While leading the CFP Manufacturing Unit in Rudrapur, Jai Prakash’s Strategic vision fostered innovation, operational excellence and a relentless focus on cost efficiency. These efforts turned out to be crucial in a financial context, delivering the unit’s most robust results in five years.
Acknowledged for his dynamism and results-oriented approach, Jai Prakash instills enthusiasm within his teams, cultivating a culture of efficiency and innovation. His extensive exposure across diverse BHEL domains—from Defence & Aerospace to Power (Thermal, Gas, Renewable Energy), Oil & Gas, Industrial Products, Transmission, and International Operations—endows him with a sharp market acumen. This broad experience equips him to decipher market trends, mould market-ready capabilities, and spearhead strategic adaptations in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Jai Prakash’s leadership resonates within BHEL’s operational fabric and in shaping a future-ready revolution. His proactive strategy formulation and execution highlight a determined commitment to steering BHEL towards sustained growth and relevance in a dynamic industrial landscape.
Jai Prakash Srivastava represents an ideal leader—an architect of change, a promoter of innovation, and a driving force behind BHEL’s ongoing evolution. His visionary stewardship indicates a promising era for BHEL, carving an enduring legacy within the organisation’s illustrious history.
