Textile Visionary Rajinder Gupta Joins Rajya Sabha From Punjab
Rajinder Gupta, Chairman Emeritus of the Trident Group, one of India’s leading diversified conglomerates, has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. The announcement marks a moment of pride for the state and recognition of Gupta’s outstanding contributions to industrial growth, employment generation, and social development over the past four decades.
With his entry into the Upper House, Punjab is expected to benefit on multiple fronts, from agriculture and industry to education and employment. At the national level, the textile sector stands to gain renewed momentum under his vision and expertise. Gupta’s deep understanding of manufacturing ecosystems, policy frameworks, and sustainability practices is anticipated to create new opportunities for innovation, skilling, and MSME development across India.
“Business is my occupation, but creating opportunities is my passion,” said Rajinder Gupta. “My heart has always been with the people of Punjab and the textile sector that has given me my identity. As I take on this new role in the Rajya Sabha, I see it as a platform to work relentlessly for the progress of Punjab and to strengthen India’s position as a global textile powerhouse. My guiding philosophy remains to harmonise industrial growth with human development.”
A first-generation entrepreneur from Punjab, Gupta founded Trident in the mid-1980s and transformed it into a US$ 2 billion global enterprise employing over 17,500 people, with exports to more than 100 countries. Under his leadership, Trident has emerged among the world’s foremost integrated manufacturers of home textiles and paper, with state-of-the-art operations in Punjab and Madhya Pradesh and international offices in the UK, USA, and Dubai.
Through the Trident Foundation, Gupta has led numerous philanthropic initiatives in education, healthcare, skill development, and community welfare, improving lives across Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. Over the past five years, his personal tax contributions have exceeded Rs 779 crore, reflecting his integrity, financial transparency, and commitment to responsible nation-building.
Recipient of the Padma Shri (2007), the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Ernst & Young (2004), and the Distinguished Entrepreneurship Award by PHDCCI (2005), Gupta exemplifies how enterprise can be a powerful driver of societal progress fostering employment, education, and inclusive growth.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Gupta has held several public and institutional leadership roles, including Vice Chairman, State Economic Policy and Planning Board, Punjab, Chairman, Board of Governors – Punjab Engineering College (Deemed University) and Chairman, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University. His association with FICCI, CII and the Cleveland Clinic International Leadership Board reflects his wide-ranging contributions to economic, educational, and healthcare development.
With a personal net worth exceeding Rs 5,000 crore, Gupta continues to embody ethical leadership, entrepreneurial excellence and a deep-rooted commitment to the nation’s progress, both within and beyond the textile industry.
