Infosys chairman and chief mentor Narayana Murthy has emerged India's most admired business leader, ahead of late Reliance chief Dhirubhai Ambani, Azim Premji of Wipro and noted industrialist Kumarmangalam Birla, in a survey conducted among management students.

Following Murthy (40 per cent), 21 per cent people voted for late Ambani as the most admired business leader of the country, the survey said, which was conducted by business management schools, including three Indian Institute of Managements, across the country. 

Of the spontaneous responses, 42 per cent applauded Murthy's leadership, style, vision and entrepreneurial spirit while 44 per cent valued his ethics.

Both Premji and Birla received six per cent vote, while the Tatas got a mere three per cent.

They were followed by Bharti Telcom Chief Sunil Mittal and the Ambani brothers who shared four per cent each, the survey added.

The annual study of Indian MBAs' most admired business leaders is carried out by Bangalore-based communications consultancy Brand-Comm to provide an insight into companies and business people highly regarded by management students in the country.