The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), launched in 2016 by the Government of India, is a visionary program designed to transform rural India. Its core idea is to develop Rurban Clusters—groups of villages with growth potential—into sustainable hubs that balance the best of rural traditions with modern urban facilities. The mission seeks to bridge…
Rural development in India is a multidimensional process aimed at improving livelihoods, enhancing basic services, strengthening local institutions, and ensuring sustainability across agriculture and the non-farm rural economy. It integrates social inclusion, infrastructure creation, market access, and environmental stewardship to close the rural–urban gap and drive inclusive growth. Components of rural development Approaches since Independence…
India’s rural development agenda blends targeted schemes, infrastructure finance, and structural reforms to raise incomes, build resilience, and close the rural–urban gap in opportunities and services. Rural development schemes Skill and entrepreneurship Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) Backward area programs Power supply to rural India Dryland farming development Soil and water conservation Rural Infrastructure…
Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Indian economy, not only as a source of livelihood for a large section of the population but also as a driver of growth, food security, and rural development. Despite rapid industrialization and the rise of the services sector, agriculture continues to play a foundational role in shaping…
Rural India’s economy is anchored in agriculture but increasingly driven by non-farm diversification, with formalization, infrastructure expansion, and digital public infrastructure reshaping finance, livelihoods, and market linkages. Agriculture Non-farm activities GDP and GVA: Relevance for Rural Banking Rural money markets Rural indebtedness Rural poverty Measuring the poverty line: methods Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Infrastructure in…
Rural India is characterized by a large population base with improving health and education indicators, a predominantly smallholder agrarian economy alongside expanding non-farm activity, and evolving local institutions that shape development outcomes and financial inclusion priorities. Population and literacy Sixth Economic Census Agriculture census highlights Socio‑economic development indicators Health and nutrition Education Rural‑urban migration Characteristics…