Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will chair the first-ever National Rural Development Conference 2026 scheduled for June 28-29 at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium in Pusa, New Delhi. The two-day conference will bring together Rural Development Ministers and senior officials from all States and Union Territories to deliberate on holistic rural development aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Gram, Viksit Bharat'.
The conference will undertake a comprehensive review of major rural development programmes including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Rural Skill Development Programmes, and the National Social Assistance Programme. Discussions will focus on effective implementation of the VB-GRAMG Act, 2025, strengthening planning processes at Gram Panchayat level, and ensuring efficient resource utilisation.
Thematic sessions will cover rural housing, road connectivity, livelihoods, skill development, and social security, with special emphasis on the 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative for women's economic empowerment through Self-Help Groups. The conference will also deliberate on enhancing skill development and market linkages for rural youth, while placing special importance on technology and Artificial Intelligence for digital platforms, real-time monitoring, and improving program implementation effectiveness.
On the second day, plenary sessions and ministerial discussions will gather suggestions from all States before finalizing the future action plan. The conference will conclude with the release of key publications on water security, Gram Development Plans, women's empowerment, rural livelihoods, and success stories, intended as practical knowledge resources for States and Gram Panchayats.