10 Years of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

What is Unnat Bharat Abhiyan?

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship program launched by the Ministry of Education in 2014. It was revamped and relaunched in 2018 with broader participation and clearer framework.
It is a national program with the vision to involve the professional and other higher educational institutions (HEIs) of the country for the sustainable development of villages.
Vision: Transformational change in rural development processes by leveraging knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an Inclusive India and to have a paradigm shift in academic and research programs of the country.
Mission: To enable HEIs to work with the people of rural India in identifying development challenges and evolving appropriate solutions for accelerating sustainable growth.
- It also aims to create a virtuous cycle between society and an inclusive academic system by providing knowledge and practices for emerging professions and to upgrade the capabilities of both the public and the private sectors in responding to the development needs of rural India.

To engage the faculty and students of HEIs in understanding rural realities.
To identify & select existing innovative technologies, enable customisation of technologies, or devise implementation methods for innovative solutions, as per the local needs.
To leverage the knowledge base of the educational institutions for effective implementation of various government programmes.

Human Development: Health, Education and culture, Values and perception development and Skills and entrepreneurship
Material (Economic) Development: Organic agriculture and cow-based economy, water management & conservation, Renewable energy sources, Artisans and rural industries & basic amenities, etc.

National Steering Committee: Constituted by Ministry of Education for guidance and monitoring of the program at national level and to provide direction and requisite thrust to the programme.
National Executive Committee: To take policy-related decisions for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.
National Coordinating Institute (NCI): IIT Delhi. It is responsible for the effective execution and monitoring of the programme.
National Subject Expert Advisory Committee: For better and effective interventions of technologies in the villages.
Regional Coordinating Institutions (RCIs): To facilitate, guide & monitor the activities of participating institutions. 50 RCIs are identified on basis of their earlier experience and infrastructural competence etc.
- RCIs will act as nodal centres for promoting & facilitating UBA network in their region.
Participating Institutions (PIs): Any Higher Educational Institute willing to work with Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, can join the programme by applying online on UBA website.
- It is mandatory to identify/select 5 villages in consultation with the district collectors.
- Institutions are expected to do field studies, study the implementation of government schemes, and facilitate their better implementation so that they meet their objectives.

Bridging Gap Between Academia & Rural India: UBA connects HEIs like IITs, and universities with villages, helping translate academic knowledge into practical solutions.
- HEIs help build skills, foster entrepreneurship, support startups, & expand digital literacy across villages.
Promotes Bottom-Up Approach: UBA encourages identification of local problems and community-driven solutions.
Fosters Social Responsibility: By involving students in real-life challenges of rural India, UBA cultivates empathy, awareness, and civic responsibility.
Sustainable and Inclusive Growth: UBA promotes eco-friendly practices, such as organic farming and renewable energy, which align with the goals of sustainable development.
Innovation at the Grassroots: Through field visits & interaction with villagers, students are exposed to real-world constraints, pushing them to develop practical, low-cost, & scalable innovations.
Strengthens Local Governance: Institutions work in partnership with Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and local bodies, strengthening decentralized governance.
Reduces Rural-Urban Divide: By improving facilities and opportunities in rural areas like water, education, health, energy, UBA helps reduce the push factors for rural-to-urban migration.

Redefining Higher Education’s Role: Through sustained, meaningful engagement, the UBA is redefining higher education’s role in India. The programme urges academia to move beyond classrooms and labs, engaging directly with rural life through grounded, empathetic, and socially relevant research.
- As of May 2025, 4,183 institutions are working with 19,783 villages across 35 states and UTs.
Bottom-Up Development: The HEIs are working closely with gram sabhas, elected representatives, district officials, and governments. They are actively shaping Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) and driving meaningful change from the ground up.
Solutions to Local Issues: Collaborative, community-driven initiatives blend scientific innovation with local wisdom, proving that real change grows from the ground up.
- E.g, in Haridwar’s Gaindikhata cluster, IIT Delhi introduced lemongrass cultivation and set up an oil extraction unit, helping farmers earn Rs 8,000–10,000 per month during harvest.
- In Manipur, the NIT developed a low-cost water purifier providing clean drinking water to over 2,000 villagers previously reliant on a contaminated pond.