NLSIU Announces the Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation Grant 

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru announces the Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation Grant which will support three initiatives at the University: (i) renovation of the Academic Wing of the Old Academic Block, (ii) endowment of two Rajiv K Luthra Gold Medals, and (iii) establishing an Annual Lecture Series. 

Renovation of the Academic Wing: The construction of the Old Academic Block (OAB) was initiated in 1988 and is the historical hub of academic and administrative activity of the University. The University plans to renovate and expand the OAB in two wings: the Faculty Wing and Academic Wing. The grant from the RKL Foundation will be used to redevelop the Academic Wing by redesigning existing, and building new, classrooms and seminar rooms. This will be named as the ‘Rajiv K. Luthra Academic Wing’.

Rajiv K Luthra Gold Medals: This grant will endow two gold medals in perpetuity in the memory of Shri. Rajiv K Luthra. These gold medals will be awarded to two deserving students – one from the graduating class of the 5-Year BA LLB (Hons), and another from the graduating class of the 3-Year LLB (Hons) programme.       

Annual Lecture Series: The grant will support an Annual Lecture in memory of Shri. Rajiv Luthra for a period of five years. 

Remarking on this collaboration, Gayatri Luthra, Chairperson, Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation said: “We are immensely proud to announce our partnership with NLS, Bengaluru as we embark on a transformative journey together to expand educational opportunities and foster academic excellence. NLS always held a uniquely special role in Rajiv’s heart and we are very happy to be participating in the next phase of the University’s journey as it expands its infrastructural facilities. The Rajiv K. Luthra memorial medals will inspire students to reach greater heights of academic excellence even in the face of adversity. The annual lecture series will invite renowned subject matter experts to brainstorm and debate pressing legal issues of the day. Together with the University, we aspire to create a brighter future for generations to come, driven by the power of education and equal opportunity.”

NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Krishnaswamy said: “Shri. Rajiv K Luthra was a friend and supporter of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. At its founding, he was among the early enthusiastic members of the Bar who supported this innovative experiment. Subsequently, Mr. Luthra became one of the largest recruiters from NLSIU as he created one of India’s best law firms. Today, we extend his legacy at NLSIU by redeveloping the academic wing of the Old Academic Block, endowing two gold medals, and institutionalising a new annual lecture series, in his name. We are grateful to Ms. Gayathri Luthra and the Rajiv K Luthra Foundation for this grant. We are confident that with their support, we will develop more enduring ways to celebrate his legacy, and encourage the education of future leaders of the legal profession.”  

About Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation

The Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation is a charitable Trust which plans and implements social development activities in the area of education. It was established in the memory of Shri. Rajiv K. Luthra, founder of Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India, one of India’s largest law firms. The foundation grants scholarships and financial aid to deserving law students; and organises panel discussions, moots and symposiums to further the cause of legal education. 

A first-generation lawyer, Rajiv Krishan Luthra (1956 – 2023) single-handedly built Luthra & Luthra Law Offices from a one-room operation in 1989, to a globally recognised full-service law firm, with over 350 members and 65 Partners; having offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. He pioneered areas of practice in India such as taxation, competition, capital markets, and project finance. Luthra & Luthra Law Offices was ranked first globally in project finance in 2010 by DealLogic, handling deals worth a total of USD 6.3 Billion. Rajiv Luthra is the recipient of countless awards and felicitations, including by former Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan and former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh.

Rajiv Luthra was known as a visionary, philanthropist, benevolent soul and a heart full of love and forgiveness – and the Rajiv K. Luthra Foundation has been established by the Luthra family in his memory to take forward his altruistic vision. In the first phase of its operations, the foundation will be focused on (a) providing deserving students grants and scholarships for legal education – all the way from entrance exam coaching to college tuition fees and living expenses; (b) promoting legal education and legal literacy in society and (c) organising panel discussions, colloquiums and moots across colleges in areas of law close to Rajiv Luthra’s heart.

About NLSIU

NLSIU was the first National Law University established in India in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. The premier law school was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions. Over the last three decades, the University has been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India. It has been ranked First among Law Universities in every significant ranking including the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) which has consistently ranked NLS as the top law school for the last six years.

In 2021, the University developed the ‘NLSIU Inclusion and Expansion Plan 2021-25’ which integrates three key strategies: Student Inclusion & Expansion, Faculty & Research, and Finance & Infrastructure. Under this plan, we have already expanded intake across our academic programmes from 190 students per annum (AY 2020-21) to 560 students per annum (AY 2023-24), while accommodating students from diverse backgrounds from across the country. In the last three Academic Years, we have recruited highly accomplished faculty across disciplines from the top universities and have intensified our efforts toward increasing research output. Our physical infrastructure has grown to accommodate the expansion of the University including new classrooms, improved hostels and residential amenities, and a reimagined and redeveloped academic library that is among the best in the country. The University has also adopted and is currently implementing a comprehensive digital transformation of all academic, administrative and residential processes. 

Please follow the NLS website for further updates. 

The official press release of this announcement is available here.