The Yash Birla group has diversified interest in industries like steel pipes, machine tools, cutting tools, tool holders, iron castings, textiles, carpets, furnishing and lifestyle.

The last time he was in the news, it was because of this story: Birla's private retreat near Kedarnath on the banks of the Mandakini river, where he spent many an hour meditating, was destroyed in the Uttarakhand floods last year. Birla was in London when he was informed about the tragedy. The old caretaker of the place managed to jump out of a window in the nick of time. The house, of course, was totally destroyed.