Jaiprakash Gaur (born c.1930) is an Indian entrepreneur. He founded and, until his retirement in 2010, was the chairman of Jaypee Group, a conglomerate with a heavy emphasis on engineering and construction (particularly for infrastructure and power projects), cement, and hydropower production. In 2012 he was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 70th-richest person in India, with an estimated net worth of US$855 million. ^[1] Gaur has been associated with the construction industry for more than five decades.^[2]

Gaur was born in the village Chitta near Bulandshahr in present Uttar Pradesh.^[3] His father was an agricultural inspector in the British government and worked as a serviceman in Beej Godam, Pakki Sarai at Anupshahr. He completed his secondary education at LDAV Inter college Anupshahr. After graduating as a civil engineer from the University of Roorkee, he worked as a junior engineer in the Uttar Pradesh state irrigation department,^[4][5] but was suspended from the department on charges of corruption.^[6]

After graduation, Gaur joined the state government's irrigation department as a junior engineer.^[7] Subsequently he started his own venture as a civil contractor.^[5][8] Two decades later, he laid the foundation for the Jaypee Group by setting up Jaiprakash Associates, a civil engineering and construction company.^[8][9] To leave a secure government job and pursue contractorship in 1958, when it was considered to be most prestigious, required courage. In 1967, he led and transformed a motley group of persons into a company which took pride in its cable address "Iron Will" and went on to execute:

• Sardar Sarovar Dam – India’s largest dam with 7.2 million cu.m. of chilled concrete; larger by 75% in terms of volume than Bhakra Nangal Dam
• Tehri Dam - Asia's largest rockfill dam
• Nathpa Jhakri (powerhouse) - The largest underground powerhouse in India

In 2010 he was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 48th-richest person in India, with an estimated wealth of US$1.5 billion.^[7]

• 2005 "Distinguished Alumni Award" by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee), in recognition of his contribution in the field of corporate development/administration/entrepreneurship^[10]
• 2005 "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Builders' Association of India, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian construction industry^[11]
• 2005 "Udyog Ratna" award by the Progress Harmony Development (PHD) Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in recognition of his contribution to the economic development of Madhya Pradesh^[12]
• 2008 "Entrepreneur of Year Award", by Ernst & Young, for his exceptional contribution to the infrastructure and construction sector^[8]
• 2010 "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Merchants' Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, for creating new milestones in infrastructure development and for his achievement in corporate social responsibility^[13]