At a time when the world is in the grips of a demand slowdown and most firms seem to be doing worse than they did in the previous year, India's leaders appear to have stayed on course. While the number of firms in the Far Eastern Economic Review's `85% Club' -- those that got an overall score of 6 or more out of 7 -- has gone down by a third this year, three Indian giants figure in the list this year.

Top of the list, understandably, given its sharp consumer focus, is Hindustan Lever. Lever, incidentally, has been the India topper for the last three years running. Number two on the list, up from 8 just two years ago, is Reliance Industries. More than its strength as the market leader in most areas it operates in is the company's strategic planning. Reliance, interestingly, was ranked 4 in long-term vision two years ago, but is today ranked as the top corporation in India in this area.