After decades as one of India’s most iconic watchmakers, HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) Watches Limited has been formally dissolved effective March 02 2026, marking the end of its corporate existence and closing a chapter in Indian manufacturing history.
Corporate Dissolution Becomes Official
HMT Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, HMT Watches Limited, was struck off from the Register of Companies under Section 248(2) of the Companies Act, 2013, India. This legal step formally ends the subsidiary’s existence as a corporate entity.
This dissolution was disclosed in a regulatory filing with Indian stock exchanges under SEBI (LODR) Regulations. The striking-off follows a formal application that HMT Limited had filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs earlier in January 2026.
Why This Matters
HMT Watches was once synonymous with reliable and affordable timepieces in India. Established in the early 1960s, the brand became known as the “timekeeper of the nation” having classic models like Pilot, Janata, and Kohinoor in its arsenal. These watches were a fixture on Indian wrists for generations and were even gifted to astronauts, presidents, and soldiers. However, over the years, production declines and changing market dynamics saw the company struggle to compete with modern domestic and international brands.
Though HMT Watches Ltd effectively stopped manufacturing long ago, they continued to exist as a corporate entity. The recent dissolution finalized the brand’s official life cycle.
What Led to the Dissolution?
The formal closure is part of HMT Limited’s broader restructuring strategy. The parent company is a government-owned industrial conglomerate, and has been streamlining its portfolio and liquidating non-core or underperforming businesses for years.
A notice filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in January outlined the intention to strike off the subsidiary from the corporate register and thereby acknowledging the lack of active operations.
Financial disclosures from previous annual reports also indicate that efforts toward closure and asset disposition had been in motion for several years, including directives from relevant ministries to file for winding up under the Companies Act.
What Next?
- HMT Watches Limited no longer exists as a legal company, and it cannot engage in business or issue new products under that corporate banner.
- Parts of the legacy brand identity and stock may continue in different forms (e.g., existing inventories, secondary markets, or licensed usages), even though official manufacturing operations have ended.
- Enthusiasts and collectors may now view HMT watches not merely as timepieces but collector items and pieces of industrial heritage.
You can however, still grab a piece of history right now from the official HMT watches website.
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