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 brought together stakeholders from all seven RuTAG Centres to review cumulative progress of projects under RuTAG 2.0, with focus on technology maturity, field validation, measurable outcomes, and pathways for wider adoption.
In his address, Prof. Sood emphasized that RuTAG must remain focused on addressing practical challenges faced by rural communities, with technological interventions being scalable and sustainable. He stated that the objective should be "depth of impact rather than breadth of activity" and stressed that affordability should not compromise quality, reliability, safety, or durability. He referenced the RSVC-AMRIT platform developed by NABARD in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser for supporting technology discovery and deployment.
Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, observed that RuTAG technologies have reached a stage where their contribution needs consideration in broader rural value chains rather than as standalone solutions. She highlighted the role of State Governments, producer organisations, financial institutions, incubators, manufacturers, and local fabricators in supporting technology adoption.
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, emphasized translating research outcomes into practical solutions supporting sustainable agriculture, local livelihoods, employment and entrepreneurship in remote regions. He underscored the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, efficient resource use, and local manufacturing.
All seven RuTAG Centres presented their cumulative progress: 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. Discussions covered technology readiness, field validation, user feedback, measurable outcomes, and manufacturing pathways. A compendium of technologies developed under RuTAG 2.0 (2023-2026) by SKUAST-Kashmir was released during the meeting.
Exhibition stalls showcased selected technologies 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 and building stronger institutional linkages across the RuTAG network.