December 28, 1937 Born to Soonoo and Naval Tata in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
1955 At 17, departs for Cornell University in the United States, where he begins his studies in architecture and engineering
1962 Graduates with a bachelor's degree in architecture from Cornell. Joins Tata Group as an assistant at Tata Industries. Undergoes six months of training at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (now Tata Motors) in Jamshedpur.
1963 Continues training at Tata Steel's Jamshedpur facility.
1965 Appointed as a technical officer in Tata Steel's engineering division.
1969 Works as the Tata Group's resident representative in Australia.
1970 Returns to India for a brief stint at Tata Consultancy Services, then a fledgling software firm.
1971 Takes over as director- in-charge of Nelco, an ailing Tata electronics company.
1974 Joins the board of Tata Sons as a director.
1975 Completes the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
1981 Appointed Chairman of Tata Industries, focusing on promoting high- technology businesses.
1983 Drafts the Tata Group's strategic plan. 1986-1989 Serves as Chairman of Air India.
March 25, 1991 Succeeds JRD Tata as Chairman of Tata Sons and Chairman of the Tata Trusts.
1991 Begins restructuring the Tata Group in the context of India's economic liberalization.
2000 (Receives Padma Bhushan award. ) onwards Leads the global expansion of the Tata Group with key acquisitions including Tetley (tea), Corus (steel), Jaguar Land Rover (automobiles), and others.
2008 Launches the Tata Nano, a revolutionary low-cost car project. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second- highest civilian honor.
2009 He receives Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic from Government of Italy.
December 2012 Steps down as Chairman of Tata Sons after 50 years in the Tata Group; named Chairman Emeritus.
2014 Receives Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) from Queen Elizabeth II.
October 2016 - February 2017 Serves as interim Chairman of Tata Group. October 2016- February 2017 Serves as interim Chairman of Tata Group.
October 10, 2024 Ratan Tata passes away at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital.