Rural Development

October 6, 2026 10:34 AM

Centre expands rural employment framework, notifies 375 works under VB-G RAM G

The Ministry of Rural Development has notified 375 permissible works under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, expanding the scope of the rural works framework by 41 per cent compared with the previous scheme. The new Schedule of Permissible Works replaces the earlier list of 266 works and reorganises rural works into four broad areas — Water Security, Core Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood-related Infrastructure, and Special W...

September 24, 2026 12:55 PM

Mizoram woman farmer to receive FAO award

A 35-year-old teacher-turned-farmer from a remote village in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district will receive a United Nations award in Rome for her contribution to agriculture and rural development, after turning strawberry cultivation into a profitable livelihood. Z T Lalrithangi, popularly known as Pi Mari-i, from Sangau in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, has been selected among the “FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development” by the Food and Agriculture Organization...

September 22, 2026 2:10 PM

PM Modi’s vision driving India from Last-Mile Delivery to rural prosperity

India’s rural transformation is increasingly being shaped by an approach that goes beyond delivering government schemes to households and seeks to build strong community institutions, sustainable livelihoods and local entrepreneurship. The latest data presented by the government shows the scale of this effort, particularly through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), which has emerged as a major platform for women-led rural development. Prime Minister...

September 19, 2026 10:22 AM

DDU-GKY 2.0: over 34,000 rural youth to begin skill training across 14 States/UTs in October

The Ministry of Rural Development is set to commence training batches under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 across most States and Union Territories from October 2026. As part of the first phase, preparedness for the launch of training batches was reviewed with 14 States and Union Territories, including Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Karnataka, Telangana and Bihar....

September 16, 2026 4:39 PM

PM Modi’s continued commitment to farmers’ welfare and dignity yields good results

India’s farmers play a central role in ensuring the country’s food security and sustaining the rural economy. Recognising their contribution, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued to focus not only on improving farmers’ incomes and agricultural productivity, but also on strengthening their social security and financial well being. A significant example of this approach is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY), which completed seven years in September 2...

July 18, 2026 9:11 AM

Science-led roadmap proposed for sustainable development of Kargil

Scientists, policymakers, academicians and local stakeholders came together in Kargil to identify science and technology interventions for the region's sustainable and inclusive development, with a focus on agriculture, food processing, renewable energy and rural entrepreneurship. The one-day meet on "Science, Technology, and Innovation Need Identification for Sustainable Development of Kargil" was organised on July 15 by the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research ...

July 13, 2026 4:30 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to hold high-level talks with West Bengal CM on agriculture, rural development

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan will undertake a two-day visit to West Bengal on July 13 and 14 to review key agriculture and rural development programmes, hold high-level discussions with the state government, and interact directly with jute farmers, agricultural scientists and women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Chouhan will arrive in Kolkata on the evening of July 13 and hold a dinner meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suve...

July 22, 2025 5:19 PM

PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan: Massive Development Scheme to Remake India’s Tribal Heartland

India’s most extensive tribal development initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM JUGA), has reached over 5 crore tribal citizens across 63,000 villages since its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2024, from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. With a financial outlay of ₹79,156 crore, the scheme covers 549 districts-accounting for nearly 71% of the country-and is implemented through coordinated efforts of 17 line ministries. This initiative was approved by the ...