Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
An Indian public-interest foundation established to carry forward the legacy and ideals of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi through work in education, health, community welfare, disability inclusion, livelihoods and research.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is an Indian public-interest foundation established on 21 June 1991 to carry forward the legacy of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Its work has covered education, literacy, health, disability inclusion, community welfare, livelihoods, natural-resource management and policy research. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, the foundation functions through grants, scholarships, institutional partnerships, field programmes, research activity and public-interest initiatives. The foundation was created shortly after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. A meeting of the Jawahar Bhawan Trust in July 1991 supported the foundation's work from Jawahar Bhawan, and an initial group of trustees was constituted. Sonia Gandhi became closely associated with the organisation and is identified in reference material as its chairperson. The founding and early trustee group included public figures from politics, public administration, business, science, journalism and civil society, including Shankar Dayal Sharma, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan, Suman Dubey, N. K. Seshan and Sunil Nehru. Additional trustees were inducted in 1992, including P. V. Narasimha Rao, P. Chidambaram, V. Krishnamurthy, Sam Pitroda, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Research and policy have been an important part of the foundation's identity. In August 1991 it established the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, which develops research, analysis and practical ideas relating to economic reform, science and technology, social issues, public affairs and international relations. The institute has organised conferences, lectures, workshops and research projects and has invited academics, scientists, policymakers and international public figures to contribute to discussions on contemporary issues. Education programmes have included support for disadvantaged girls, teacher training, scholarships and efforts to strengthen local participation in education governance. The foundation has worked with partners in Uttar Pradesh to support the Vidyagyan scholarship programme for economically disadvantaged Muslim and lower-caste girls, supported women pilot trainees through scholarships, provided travel scholarships for students connected with British universities, and introduced teacher-empowerment work in Assam and other northeastern states. Its library programme has established libraries in villages and urban settlements across multiple Indian states. It has also collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on public-library work in Uttar Pradesh. Health activities have included HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention work, training and workshops for medical practitioners and non-governmental organisations, and support for cardiac surgery. In 2009, Sonia Gandhi flagged off the Red Ribbon Express on World AIDS Day in connection with the foundation's awareness activities. The foundation has also supported access to opportunities for young people with physical disabilities, including the provision of motorised vehicles. Since 2001, the organisation has undertaken livelihoods and natural-resource-management work in environmentally degraded rural areas of Rajasthan. Its Gram Gaurav initiative, established in 2011, has focused on water-resource augmentation, soil conservation and improved agricultural production in villages in the Karauli and Dholpur region. The foundation has also supported postgraduate study by collaborating with the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust on scholarships for Indian students seeking MPhil or LLM degrees at the University of Cambridge. The foundation has faced sustained political and regulatory scrutiny. A proposed government contribution of 1 billion Indian rupees announced in the 1991–92 Union Budget was withdrawn after political controversy, with the foundation reportedly indicating that public funds should instead be invested directly in suitable projects. Opposition parties later questioned other alleged sources of funding, including donations connected with public bodies, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, Zakir Naik and Chinese interests. These claims have been disputed or politically contested; reference material states that a donation attributed to Zakir Naik was later returned. In 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs established an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate inquiries into possible legal and financial irregularities involving the foundation and related trusts. In October 2022, the government cancelled the foundation's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licence. The cancellation affected its ability to receive foreign contributions under that regulatory framework but does not by itself establish that the foundation ceased all operations.
History
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was established on 21 June 1991 following the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Its purpose was to preserve and advance his public-service ideals through programmes addressing social development, education, health and public policy. In July 1991, the Jawahar Bhawan Trust, led by Sonia Gandhi, passed a resolution inviting the foundation to work from Jawahar Bhawan. Eight founding trustees were constituted, including Shankar Dayal Sharma, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan, Suman Dubey, N. K. Seshan and Sunil Nehru. A larger group of trustees was inducted in 1992, including P. V. Narasimha Rao, P. Chidambaram, V. Krishnamurthy, Sam Pitroda, Shankar Raha, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and R. P. Goenka. The organisation developed both field programmes and a research arm. In August 1991 it established the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, designed to provide research-based ideas and policy analysis on economic reform, science and technology, social issues, public affairs and international relations. The institute's activities have included conferences, lectures, workshops, short studies and commissioned projects. It has also encouraged scholars and specialists to conduct research intended to inform policy and decision-making. Education became one of the foundation's principal areas of activity. Its programmes have included support for girls in disadvantaged communities, scholarships, library development, teacher training and experiments in decentralising education governance. In Hyderabad's Yakutpura area, the foundation worked with the local organisation Mahita in a programme that enrolled Muslim girls in schools. In Uttar Pradesh, the Vidyagyan scholarship programme, launched in 2007–08 with the Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar Educational and Charitable Trust, supported poor Muslim and lower-caste girls in middle-school grades. Other education activities have included scholarships for women pilot trainees, travel scholarships for students connected with British universities and a Cambridge scholarship programme for Indian postgraduate students. Teacher-training work began at the District Institute of Education and Training in Titabor, Assam, and was extended to other northeastern states. From 1993 onward, the foundation also established libraries in villages and slums across India; a later partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported public-library work in Uttar Pradesh. Health initiatives have included HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness work launched in 1993. The foundation collaborated with medical practitioners and NGOs through workshops and training. Its association with the Red Ribbon Express campaign was publicly highlighted in 2009 when Sonia Gandhi flagged off the train on World AIDS Day. Reference material also reports support for hundreds of cardiac surgeries by 2012 through a partnership with AGS charity. In disability inclusion, the foundation has helped physically challenged young people access employment and other opportunities, including by awarding motorised vehicles. The foundation expanded into rural livelihoods and environmental management in 2001. Projects in Rajasthan addressed water scarcity, environmental degradation, soil conservation and agricultural productivity in districts including Jaipur, Pali and Karauli. To scale this work, it established Gram Gaurav on 19 December 2011. The programme has worked in villages in the Dang region of Karauli and Dholpur, focusing on water-resource development, soil conservation and agricultural improvement. The organisation's public profile has also been shaped by controversy. In 1991, the Union Budget proposed a government contribution of 1 billion Indian rupees to the foundation over five years. After political opposition, the proposal was withdrawn; reference material says the foundation indicated that the government should use the money directly for suitable projects. Later criticism concerned alleged transfers or donations involving government ministries, public-sector entities and the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. In 2016, the BJP alleged that the foundation had accepted money from Zakir Naik; a Congress spokesperson said the amount had been returned. In 2020, the BJP also alleged that the foundation had received money from the Chinese government in 2005–06 and questioned whether it related to policy lobbying. These claims were part of an adversarial political debate and should be distinguished from formal findings. In 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs established an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into possible violations involving the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and related trusts under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Income Tax Act and other provisions. In October 2022, the government cancelled the foundation's FCRA licence over alleged legal violations. The licence cancellation is a significant regulatory development affecting foreign funding, but the available reference material does not establish that the foundation was dissolved or that all of its domestic activities ended.
- 2022
FCRA licence cancelled
[1]The Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the foundation's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act licence over alleged violations.
- 2020
Inter-ministerial inquiry committee formed
[1]The Home Ministry coordinated a multi-agency inquiry into alleged legal and financial irregularities involving the foundation and related trusts.
- 2011
Gram Gaurav established
[1]The foundation created Gram Gaurav to scale water, soil and agriculture interventions in the Karauli and Dholpur region.
- 2010
Education-governance decentralisation initiative launched
[1]A programme sought to give primary stakeholders a greater role in education planning and governance.
- 2007
Vidyagyan scholarship programme launched
[1]The foundation and a charitable education partner introduced scholarships for disadvantaged girls in selected Uttar Pradesh districts.
- 2001
Rural livelihoods and natural-resource programme begins
[1]The organisation began fieldwork addressing livelihoods and environmental degradation in rural Rajasthan.
- 1993
HIV/AIDS prevention work begins
[1]The foundation began HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention activity in India.
- 1992
Additional trustees inducted
[1]A second group of political, administrative, scientific and business figures joined the foundation's trustees.
- 1991
Foundation established
[1]The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was established on 21 June to carry forward Rajiv Gandhi's legacy and ideals through public-interest work.
- 1991
Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies founded
[1]The foundation created its research institute to develop policy analysis and practical ideas on contemporary national and international issues.
Products and positioning
A legacy-led Indian public-interest foundation combining charitable field programmes with education, research, health, inclusion and rural-development initiatives.
Policy research institute · 1991
Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies
A research and public-policy institute established in 1991. It examines economic reform, science and technology, social issues, public affairs and international relations through conferences, lectures, workshops, short studies and longer research projects. The institute also invites scholars, scientists, economists and social scientists to contribute ideas intended to inform policy and decision-making.
Education scholarship · 2007
Vidyagyan scholarship programme
A scholarship initiative developed with the Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar Educational and Charitable Trust in selected Uttar Pradesh districts. It focused on very poor Muslim and lower-caste girls in middle-school grades, with reference material reporting support for approximately 1,500 girls in classes 6 through 9.
Higher-education scholarship
Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Scholarship
A scholarship programme operated in collaboration with the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. Reference material describes two scholarships for Indian students pursuing MPhil or LLM study at the University of Cambridge.
Rural development programme · 2011
Gram Gaurav
A rural-development initiative established to expand the foundation's livelihoods and natural-resource-management work. Its activities have included augmenting water resources, conserving soil and improving agricultural production in villages in the Dang region of Karauli and Dholpur.
Literacy and library service · 1993
Community library programme
A long-running effort to establish libraries in villages and slums across India. Reference material states that 1,648 libraries had been set up across 22 states by the time of the cited account. The foundation later partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on public-library work in Barabanki and Rae Bareli districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Teacher training
Teachers Empowerment Programme
A professional-development programme providing extensive training for teachers. It began at the District Institute of Education and Training in Titabor, Jorhat district, Assam, and was later extended to teachers in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.
Controversies
2022
FCRA licence cancellation
The Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the foundation's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act licence over alleged violations of applicable laws. The action affected foreign-contribution eligibility and was not itself a dissolution order.
2020
Allegations concerning Chinese government funding
The BJP alleged that the foundation received a donation from the Chinese government during 2005–06 and questioned whether it was connected with policy lobbying. The claim was politically disputed and is not treated here as established fact.
2020
Multi-agency investigation
The Ministry of Home Affairs created an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate examination of alleged violations of the FCRA, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Income Tax Act and other provisions involving the foundation and related trusts.
2016
Allegation concerning Zakir Naik donation
The BJP alleged that the foundation had received a donation from Zakir Naik in 2011. A Congress spokesperson said the amount was returned. The available material records a political allegation and response, not an adjudicated finding.
1991
Withdrawn proposed government contribution
The Union Budget proposed a government contribution of 1 billion Indian rupees to the foundation over five years. Following political opposition, the proposal was withdrawn. Reference material says the foundation indicated that the government should invest the money directly in suitable projects.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Decentralization of Education Governance
India
An education-sector initiative intended to devolve decision-making power to primary stakeholders and alter planning processes within the education system.
Outcome. The available source identifies the programme's intended governance changes but does not provide a final evaluation.
- 2009Red Ribbon Express
India
The foundation participated in HIV/AIDS awareness activity associated with the Red Ribbon Express. Sonia Gandhi flagged off the train on World AIDS Day in 2009.
Outcome. The event provided a national public platform for HIV/AIDS awareness; no definitive campaign impact measure is supplied.
- 1993HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness Programme
India
The foundation began public-health work to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, later partnering with medical practitioners and NGOs for workshops and training.
Outcome. The programme became a continuing area of health work; the available material does not provide a consolidated impact figure.
Brand decisions
2022
Regulatory loss of FCRA licenceOtherBackground
The Home Ministry's earlier inter-ministerial inquiry examined alleged violations involving the foundation and related trusts.
Action taken
The government cancelled the foundation's licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
Aftermath
The cancellation restricted the foundation's ability to receive foreign contributions under the FCRA framework. The available source does not establish that the organisation was dissolved.
2011
Creation of Gram GauravStrategyBackground
Earlier rural projects addressed livelihoods and environmental degradation in Rajasthan, creating a basis for a larger rural-development platform.
Action taken
The foundation established Gram Gaurav to expand work on water, soil and agricultural productivity.
Aftermath
The programme worked in villages in the Karauli and Dholpur region; the cited material does not provide a later comprehensive evaluation.
1991
Establishment of a legacy-led public-interest foundationStrategyBackground
Following Rajiv Gandhi's death, trustees sought to create an institution that would express his public-service priorities through social development, education, health and policy work.
Action taken
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was established and given a broad programme remit rather than a single-sector charitable mandate.
Aftermath
The organisation developed field programmes alongside its policy-research institute.
1991
Decision not to retain proposed budgetary contributionStrategyBackground
The Union Budget proposed a large multi-year government contribution, prompting political criticism.
Action taken
The proposal was withdrawn after controversy, with reference material stating that the foundation indicated public funds should instead be used directly for suitable projects.
Aftermath
The episode became an early controversy concerning the foundation's relationship with public funding.
Proposed government contribution. 1 billion Indian rupees proposed over five years → Proposal withdrawn (1991–92 Union Budget)
Sources2 sources
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