This award is instituted in memory of the late Prof. Rahul Basu, one of India’s leading High Energy physicists and a warm and enthusiastic member of the HEP community whose presence is greatly missed. The award, coordinated through the Indian Physics Association, will be given for the two most outstanding Ph.D. theses from India, across all areas of High Energy Physics (theoretical and experimental), during a 2-year period starting from September 1st of each even year.