In order to improve efficiency, enhance professionalism and enable them to compete effectively in the liberalised global environment, Government of India announced a policy in 1996, called Navratna Policy. Under this policy, 9 most profitable PSUs were given status of navratna and 97 other profit making PSUs were called Mini ratnas.
List of companies included in Navratnas is as follows:
- Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOC)
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)
- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)
- Steel Authority of India Limited. (SAIL)
- Indian Pharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd. (IPCL)
- Bharat Heavy Electronics Ltd. (BHEL)
- National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC)
- Videsh Sanchar Nigham Ltd. (VSNL)
- Gas Authority of India Limited. (GAIL)
- Mahanangar Telephone Nigam Limited. (MTNL)