Indian Philanthropists: Know about Bajaj family, country’s 3rd biggest donor

The Bajaj Family has its origin with Jamnalal Bajaj. He was born in Rajasthan in 1889 into a poor family. After that he was adopted as the grandson of wealthy merchant Seth Bachhraj Bajaj of Wardha, Maharashtra. This adoption connected Jamnalal to the business world.

Post Published By: Sona Saini
Updated : 10 November 2025, 12:50 PM IST
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Mumbai: Bajaj Family is the India's 3rd most generous philanthropist. According to the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025, the Bajaj Family donated a total of Rs 446 crore in the last year and thus became the 3rd biggest philanthropist of India.

The Bajaj Family: A Brief Profile

The Bajaj Family has its origin with Jamnalal Bajaj. He was born in Rajasthan in 1889 into a poor family. After that he was adopted as the grandson of wealthy merchant Seth Bachhraj Bajaj of Wardha, Maharashtra.

This adoption connected Jamnalal to the business world. After that he founded the Bajaj Group in 1926, initially with a sugar factory.

The family has since grown into a prominent Indian business dynasty with diverse interests and a strong legacy of philanthropy.

The Bajaj Group does not have a single "owner" as it is a conglomerate with various companies headed by different leaders; the original founder is Jamnalal Bajaj.

The current leaders include Sanjiv Bajaj, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv Limited and Jt. Chairman & MD of Bajaj Capital Group, and Rajiv Bajaj, who is the chairman, MD & CEO of Bajaj Auto.

The Bajaj family is the 99-year-old Bajaj Group and is best known for motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto and financial services arm, Bajaj Finserv.

About Rahul Bajaj

The Bajaj Group was chaired by Rahul Bajaj, who shared the business with cousins the late Madhur, Niraj and Shekhar. The patriarch Rahul Bajaj died in 2022 at age 83.

Rahul Bajaj was born on 10 June 1938 and passes away on 12 February 2022. He was an Indian billionaire businessman and politician and the chairman emeritus of the Indian conglomerate Bajaj Group. Rahul Bajaj was awarded the third-highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan in 2001.

Bajaj took over the Bajaj Group in 1965. In a career spanning over five decades, he led the turnover of the group's flagship company, Bajaj Auto, from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 12,000 crore, with the company's scooter Bajaj Chetak being the main growth driver.

Rahul Bajaj Sons

Now Bajaj Auto is run by the late patriarch's older son Rajiv Bajaj. Bajaj Finserv is run by Rahul Bajaj's younger son Sanjiv.

In 2025, the family agreed to buy out German giant Allianz's stake in their two insurance joint ventures for $2.8 billion.

Location : 
  • Mumbai

Published : 
  • 10 November 2025, 12:50 PM IST