Unnat Bharat Abhiyan marks 11 yrs of transforming education in rural India

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has completed eleven years of empowering rural India through the participation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The National Coordinating Institute, IIT Delhi, celebrated the foundation day of the programme on November 11.

Launched on November 11, 2014, by the Ministry and inaugurated by the then President of India, UBA has been working as a bridge between academia and grassroots communities. Under the continued guidance of the Ministry, the initiative promotes technology transfer, rural entrepreneurship, and policy linked research to bring sustainable development to rural areas.

Over the years, UBA has driven numerous success stories, including the establishment of solar microgrids, biogas units, millet based enterprises, and skill development centres. These projects highlight the role of HEIs as engines of inclusive growth and innovation.

To commemorate the foundation day, more than 1,100 participating institutions across India organised events that engaged over 20,000 students, faculty members, and villagers. The activities included village immersion camps, community awareness drives, rural innovation exhibitions, traditional wisdom workshops, and youth village dialogues.

These initiatives aimed to sensitise students to the realities of rural life while showcasing innovative models aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Prof Virendra Kumar Vijay, National Coordinator, UBA, expressed gratitude to the Ministry and partner institutions, stating that “the success of UBA lies in connecting hearts before connecting technology, ensuring that India’s youth view villages not as backward spaces, but as living laboratories of innovation, culture, and resilience.”

As the programme enters its twelfth year, UBA has reaffirmed its commitment to realizing the ideals of Gram Swaraj and Atmanirbhar Bharat. It aims to continue fostering a self reliant, knowledge driven, and sustainable rural India through the collective efforts of higher education institutions.

Since its inception, UBA has grown into a nationwide movement connecting India’s higher education ecosystem with its villages. Currently, the initiative includes a network of 4,600 participating institutions covering 22,000 villages across all states and Union Territories.

Over the past decade, the programme has mobilised more than ten lakh students and 25,000 faculty members from universities, IITs, NITs, and colleges, engaging directly with rural communities to identify challenges and co-develop sustainable solutions.