Mumbai: Ratan Tata, chairman of Indian industrial conglomerate Tata Group, has been conferred an honorary doctorate degree by top Indian technology school the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B).

India's President Pratibha Patil handed over a Doctorate Honoris Causa degree to Ratan Tata here on Friday for representing "the best traditions of Indian entrepreneurship and innovation."

The honorary degree was presented to Tata during the 46th convocation of IIT Bombay.

Speaking on the occasion, Patil said Tata "is an example of the growing strength and confidence of our business enterprises to become multinationals with a presence across the globe in this century."

Tata was chosen for the honorary doctorate in recognition of his "outstanding contributions to the growth of Indian industry, to the propagation of the values of business ethics and to the overall growth of the country," the award citation said.

Tata has gained international acclaim in recent times by unveiling a Rs.100,000 car and for global acquisitions - that of the UK-based global steel giant Corus Steel and the British premium automobile brands Jaguar and Land Rover.

He has already been conferred two of India's top civilian awards - the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

This year, the IIT-B awarded as many as 1,569 degrees - the highest in its history so far - to successful students at various levels.

Present on the occasion were S.C. Jamir, Governor of the western India state of Maharashtra, as well Vilasrao Deshmukh, the state's Chief Minister. The technology school's chief Ashok Misra and the chairman of the school's Board of Governors Anil Kakodkar were also present. Kakodkar is also chairman of the country's Atomic Energy Commission. IANS