Mr JRD Tata built a strong base for a social movement to stabilize India’s population growth, to secure a better life for its people. As a tribute to its visionary leader, the Governing Board of Population Foundation of India instituted a national award in his name in 1996. The JRD Tata Memorial Awards are given to states and districts that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in population and reproductive health and family planning programmes. Since 1997, in six consecutive rounds, various states and districts have been awarded the JRD Tata Memorial Awards. The winners are selected on the basis of their current levels of performance on crucial indicators, as well as the pace of progress achieved over time.

In 1990, Population Foundation of India instituted a lecture series, inviting eminent national and international leaders to focus on critical issues related to population, health and development. In 1995, the series was re-christened as ‘JRD Tata Memorial Oration’, in memory of its founder Chairman. This oration serves as an occasion to highlight key population issues and features interactive discussions with experts. Previous orations have been delivered by Dr Amartya Sen, Dr Sowmya Swaminathan, Mr Chandrasekhar, Mr I K Gujral, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Jamshed Irani, among others.