The Population Foundation of India ( PFI, formerly known as Family Planning Foundation ) was established in l970 by a dedicated group of industrialists and population activists led by Bharat Ratna the late Mr JRD Tata who guided it as the founder Chairman until his death in l993.

The Foundation has been at the forefront of the Non Governmental efforts towards a rights based, Gender sensitive approach for Human development. Social development including population stabilisation in India should not and cannot remain the sole concern of the Government, it ought to be supported and supplemented by private voluntary enterprises. In this regard, the Foundation has always worked in close co-operation and co-ordination with official agencies and programmes, both at the Center and in the States. In its independent role, it has tried to guide and influence the National Population Policy and to serve as a catalytic agent to promote programmes at different levels directed towards the ultimate goal of population stabilization. The Foundation supports innovative research, experimentation and social action to further the cause of population stabilisation and provide a forum for pooling of experiences and sharing of professional expertise to strengthen and enlarge the operational base of the family welfare programme.