From Rural Needs to Real-World Solutions: RuTAG 2.0 focuses on deepening Technology Impact
Published: Sep 28, 2026
By TIOLCorplaws News Service
NEW DELHI, SEP 28, 2026: PRINCIPAL Scientific Adviser (PSA) 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, an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA), held on 24-25 September 2026, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Uttarakhand.
Conceptualised in 2003-04 and formally established in 2004 by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, RuTAG was instituted to connect the capabilities of scientific and technical institutions with rural technology needs. RuTAG 2.0, launched in 2023, places greater emphasis on field engagement, technology validation, commercialisation, scale-up, and their wider application. The two-day review meeting brought together stakeholders from all seven RuTAG Centres to take stock of the cumulative progress of projects under RuTAG 2.0, and deliberate on technology maturity, field validation, measurable outcomes, pathways for wider adoption and the future course of the programme.
Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, OPSA; Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; and Dr Rakesh Kaur, Adviser/Scientist 'G', OPSA, participated in the meeting along with Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators, and project teams from the RuTAG Centres. The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Prof. S.K. Singal, Principal Investigator, RuTAG IIT Roorkee.
In his address, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood stressed the need for RuTAG to remain focused on addressing practical and genuine challenges faced by rural communities. He emphasised that technological interventions should be scalable and sustainable, stating, "The objective should increasingly be depth of impact rather than breadth of activity."
Prof. Sood further underlined that affordability should not compromise quality, reliability, safety, or durability. He further emphasised that technologies which have reached maturity should progressively move beyond programme-supported development towards adoption by relevant institutions, enterprises, or industry. He also referred to the RSVC-AMRIT platform, developed by NABARD in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, in the context of supporting technology discovery, validation, deployment, and collaboration.
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 said, "The strength of RuTAG will increasingly lie in how effectively its technologies are adopted and scaled."
Dr Maini further noted that the requirements for taking technology forward vary depending on its stage of development and adoption. She highlighted the role of State Governments, producer organisations, financial institutions, incubators, manufacturers, and local fabricators in supporting the adoption and utilisation of RuTAG technologies. She also emphasised the need for greater exchange of knowledge and capabilities among the seven RuTAG Centres.
