New Delhi, Jan 22: Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL), India’s leading metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power, and technology conglomerate, has generated a cumulative financial impact of nearly ₹2,500 crores for employees through sustained Employee Stock Option (ESOP) grants over the past five years. The most recent ESOP 2025 cycle, worth over ₹500 crores, has empowered nearly 1,200 first-time recipients, including freshers, highlighting one of India’s most inclusive and broad-based wealth creation initiatives.

Vedanta’s ESOP program covers nearly 40% of its workforce across plants, functions, and career levels, making it one of the most inclusive schemes in the country. For more than 20 years, ESOPs have been a core part of Vedanta’s culture, extending grants even to freshers and early-career professionals—eligible for allocations worth up to 30% of fixed pay over a standard three-year vesting period. This makes Vedanta one of the few conglomerates in India offering equity ownership from the start of a career.

A key differentiator of Vedanta’s ESOP structure is that shares are allotted at a deeply discounted price of Re 1, reinforcing the company’s commitment to shared ownership and long-term value creation. With Vedanta’s shares reaching all-time highs, ESOPs have enabled employees to achieve significant milestones such as buying homes, funding higher education, purchasing vehicles, supporting family needs, and building long-term savings.

Employee Stories Highlight Impact

• Neeraj Kumar, Manager, Smelting Operations, Hindustan Zinc, shared,
  “When my family was registering our home in Patna, my ESOPs became our biggest support. Granted three years ago, they vested at the perfect time as Vedanta’s share price hit record highs. It allowed me to support my family and made my father immensely proud. Very few organisations offer such inclusive wealth-creation opportunities for middle management.”

• S M Rahaman Kasim, Associate GM, Quality Management, BALCO, Vedanta Aluminium, said,
  “Vedanta ESOPs gave me the confidence to fund my children’s education—one son pursuing MBBS in Russia, the other studying in Guwahati—without financial stress.”

• Nilesh Bhor, Associate Manager, Finance, Sterlite Copper, added,
  “When my father’s car met with an accident and insurance was rejected, my ESOP savings helped us manage the situation with dignity. It was truly a lifeline for my family.”

The recent ESOP 2022 vesting cycle delivered over 80% share value appreciation, generating more than ₹300 crores in wealth for employees, demonstrating the strong link between Vedanta’s performance and employee rewards.

Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal’s vision underpins this approach—empowering employees, accelerating career progression, and creating equitable financial opportunities, particularly for young professionals and women. The program also rewards contributions in areas critical to Vedanta’s future, including automation, digitalisation, AI-driven innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability.

By placing equity ownership in the hands of engineers, young professionals, plant teams, and middle management, Vedanta is reshaping compensation norms in Indian manufacturing. This democratization of wealth creation ensures that employees directly benefit from the value they help generate, reinforcing Vedanta’s commitment to shared success and long-term growth.