Daughter-in-law of Anil Agarwal and widow of the late Agnivesh Agarwal
The Vedanta Group, a prominent Indian business conglomerate, was dealt a devastating blow in early 2026 with the sudden passing of Agnivesh Agarwal, the elder son of Chairman Anil Agarwal. The news sent shockwaves throughout the business world, prompting an outpouring of condolences and tributes from across the country. As the news settled, attention shifted to Agnivesh’s wife, Puja Bangur, a notable figure affiliated with the esteemed business family.
Puja Bangur hails from the prestigious Bangur family, a well-known business clan in India. Her family has significant interests in various sectors, including cement, ceramics, and other industries. The Bangur family is respected for their entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen, which has enabled them to establish a strong presence in the Indian business landscape.
As the wife of Agnivesh Agarwal, Puja Bangur has become an important figure in the Vedanta Group, which has diversified interests in mining, metals, and other sectors. The Vedanta Group, founded by Anil Agarwal, has grown into a global conglomerate with operations in multiple countries. The group’s business interests include zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, and aluminum, among others.
The sudden demise of Agnivesh Agarwal has raised questions about the future of the Vedanta Group and the role that Puja Bangur may play in the company’s affairs. As a member of the Bangur family, Puja brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, which could be invaluable to the Vedanta Group. Her association with the Agarwal family has also strengthened the ties between the two business families, which could lead to new opportunities and collaborations in the future.
While the exact nature of Puja Bangur’s involvement in the Vedanta Group is not clear, her presence is likely to be felt in the days to come. As the business world continues to mourn the loss of Agnivesh Agarwal, attention will be focused on how the Vedanta Group navigates this challenging period and how Puja Bangur contributes to the company’s future growth and success. With her strong business background and family connections, Puja Bangur is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of the Vedanta Group.
Vedanta Resources CEO Deshnee Naidoo stated that the company will play a vital part in decreasing India’s dependence on imported critical minerals.
Vedanta Resources has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform itself into a $100 billion energy, critical minerals, and tech conglomerate. The company, led by CEO Deshnee Naidoo, aims to achieve this goal through aggressive investments in backward integration, asset acquisitions, and expansions in key sectors such as aluminium, copper, oil and gas, and rare earths. Naidoo outlined the company’s growth plans, which include doubling the Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha to 5 MTPA by FY26 and expanding captive coal and bauxite mining.
Vedanta is also focused on growing its presence in critical minerals, with a strategic role in helping India reduce its dependence on imports. The company has secured ten critical mineral blocks, including tungsten, graphite, and rare earth elements, and is leveraging its expertise in advanced metal extraction to build India’s self-reliance. Internationally, Vedanta is exploring opportunities for business expansion, including a recent MoU in Saudi Arabia to develop large-scale copper projects.
In oil and gas, Vedanta’s subsidiary Cairn is focused on accelerating exploration and converting reserves into production, with a near-term goal of about 150,000 barrels per day. The company is also expanding its aluminium production capacity, with plans to take capacity from 2.4 MTPA to 3.1 MTPA by FY28. Through its Restora range, India’s first low-carbon ‘green’ aluminium, Vedanta is helping downstream industries meet global decarbonisation standards.
The demerger process, which is underway, is expected to be completed within the current financial year. The restructuring will result in five focused, independent companies, each with the flexibility to unlock greater value. Naidoo noted that the company is confident of completing the demerger process, having received 99.99% approvals from shareholders and 99.95% from creditors.
Looking ahead, Vedanta is focused on scaling its businesses to meet India’s growing demand, despite challenges posed by increasing US tariffs and global geopolitical tensions. The company sees opportunities for India to strengthen its domestic capabilities and secure strategic resources, particularly in the energy sector. By diversifying its energy mix and investing in renewable capacity, India can position itself as a resilient global player in energy and mining. Overall, Vedanta’s ambitious plans and strategic investments are poised to drive growth and transformation in the energy, critical minerals, and tech sectors.