The term ‘admired’ is one of life’s great intangibles – it is easy to understand but hard to define! If one were to reduce it to words, though, it connotes something worthy of acclaim and applause, commendation and praise. That has been our intent when we honour India’s Most Admired Construction Brands every year, beginning in 2021. The endeavour of selecting companies that make this grade is a stringent exercise, especially at a time when – as a Morgan Stanley report has predicted – India’s GDP could well double from the current $ 3.5 trillion to over $ 7.5 trillion by 2031. Similarly, the country’s construction market is expected to achieve an average annual growth rate of over 6 per cent from 2024 to 2027. Against this backdrop, some companies enjoy enhanced brand visibility and go the extra mile to execute the tallest, largest, smartest and most demanding and complex projects. These visionaries, all leaders in their individual space, believe in staying ahead of the curve by crafting marketing strategies that resonate with their aspirations, setting an inspiring example for others to follow, despite the turbulent times. To separate the grain from the chaff and select our winners, 184 brands spanning eight categories – contractors, real estate, cement, steel, construction equipment, chemicals, paints and tiles, sanitaryware and glass – were put to the vote. Respondents had to submit a minimum of five votes on the CW website by choosing one company each from five categories, or give a maximum of 24 votes by choosing three companies from each of the eight categories. They were also given the option of writing in to CW to add a name that they felt should have been featured. Respondents were asked to base their choice, as per their perception, on criteria such as commitment to customers, corporate governance, ethics, best business practices, social responsibility, adaptability, eco-friendly and customer-friendly policies and transparency, among others. It must be noted that the upward trajectory of these trailblazers, who have shown remarkable resilience in the face of market uncertainty in a fiercely competitive landscape, has not always been smooth. But they chose to persist in their efforts to set new industry benchmarks with their grit and passion. Thus, these awards are a testament to how these companies have redefined marketing paradigms, their ability to challenge convention and their relentless pursuit of innovation. The 7 winners are: 1) Ashoka Buildcon 2) DLF 3) JCB India 4) Larsen & Toubro 5) L&T Construction & Mining Machinery 6) Schwing Stetter India 7) Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery