Principal Scientific Adviser Chairs Third Annual Review of RuTAG 2.0 Projects
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, chaired the Third Annual Review Meeting of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 projects on September 24-25, 2026, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) and brought together stakeholders from all seven RuTAG Centres to review cumulative progress of projects under RuTAG 2.0, which was launched in 2023 with greater emphasis on field engagement, technology validation, commercialization, scale-up, and wider application.
In his address, Prof. Sood stressed the need for RuTAG to remain focused on addressing practical and genuine challenges faced by rural communities, emphasizing that technological interventions should be scalable and sustainable. He stated that the objective should increasingly be depth of impact rather than breadth of activity, and that affordability should not compromise quality, reliability, safety, or durability. Prof. Sood also noted that mature technologies should progressively move beyond program-supported development toward adoption by relevant institutions, enterprises, or industry, referencing the RSVC-AMRIT platform developed by NABARD in collaboration with OPSA.
Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, OPSA, observed that RuTAG technologies have reached a stage where their contribution needs to be considered in the context of broader rural value chains and livelihood systems rather than as standalone technological solutions. She highlighted the varying requirements for taking technology forward depending on its stage of development and adoption, noting the roles of State Governments, producer organizations, financial institutions, incubators, manufacturers, and local fabricators. Dr Maini also emphasized the need for greater exchange of knowledge and capabilities among the seven RuTAG Centres.
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, highlighted the role of science, technology, and entrepreneurship in addressing evolving rural challenges, emphasizing the need to translate research outcomes into practical solutions and viable models supporting sustainable agriculture, local livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurship. He underscored the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, efficient resource use, and local manufacturing and technology deployment.
All seven RuTAG Centres – IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad, and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir – presented their cumulative progress. Discussions covered technology readiness, field validation, user feedback, measurable outcomes, documentation, fabrication and manufacturing pathways, institutional linkages, and roadmaps for technologies at different maturity stages. A compendium of technologies developed under RuTAG 2.0 (2023-2026) by the RuTAG Centre at SKUAST-Kashmir was released during the meeting.
The event included exhibition stalls showcasing selected technologies and interventions from all seven centers, and participants visited key research facilities at IIT Roorkee including the Hydro Turbine Testing Laboratory, RuTAG Laboratory, Biomass and Biochar Research Laboratory, and Environmental Bio Research Laboratory. The meeting concluded with deliberations on strengthening pathways for mature technologies to move toward wider adoption, building stronger institutional linkages, promoting collaboration across the RuTAG network, and sustaining technology uptake to address identified rural needs.