He started his business career at an early age, joining his father Baldeodas Birla in Calcutta and soon came to be known as reputed trader and speculator in opium, silver, spice and other trades from which Birlas later diversified into trading of jute and other items like cotton during and after World War I, by which time his younger brother Ghanshyam Das Birla had also joined the business.
The family firm, which was till 1918 was run as Baldeodas Jugalkishore, was made into limited company known as Birla Brothers Limited. When at one point of time in early career of his life Ghanshyam Das Birla, suffered heavy losses and had decided to sell the mill to Andrew Yule group, Jugal Kishore stood by him and told him not to worry about money but to run the mill as efficiently as he could, which led to revival of Birla Jute, now the flagship company of Aditya Birla Group. Although Jugal Kishore started his business life from Calcutta, later he shifted to Delhi and lived in Birla House till his death.
And adopting many villages in times of famine and natural disasters.
In his old age, he took the leading role to fulfill the unfinished dream of Madan Mohan Malaviya of building Krishna Janmabhoomi Kesava Deo Temple. Jugal Kishore died in 1967, without any issues and left his wealth to religious trusts and philanthropy.
Some noted philanthropic works
Founded the trust in 1951, which built the famous Krishna Janmabhoomi Kesava Deo Temple at Mathura. North Delhi Hanuman Temple founded in 1965.
Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi founded in 1939.
Birla Temple, Varanasi
Birla Temple (Gita Temple), Mathura founded in 1946
Shri Shikshayatan School which later grew into Shri Shikshayatan College of Kolkata was founded in 1920. Marwari Relief Society, Kolkata founded in 1913. Birla Hostel at Benaras Hindu University founded in 1920.
Birla Temple, Kurukshetra founded in 1950.
Development Madir, Bangkokdonated funds for marble slabs of the temple, which was inaugurated in 1969. Donated funds and arranged further monies from Birla group for building of Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
