NOV 14: The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, presided over the Second Annual Review Meeting of the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) 2.0 at IIT Guwahati on 13–14 November 2025. Senior officials from the Office of the PSA, including Dr. Parvinder Maini and Dr. Rakesh Kaur, also participated in the two-day review.
The meeting began with a welcome address by Prof. Sashindra Kr. Kakoty, who highlighted IIT Guwahati’s work in developing technologies that support sustainable livelihoods in the North-East. Dr. Kaur provided an overview of RuTAG 2.0’s progress during 2024–25, noting achievements across seven centres and strengthened collaborations with state departments, industry partners, and community organisations.
In his keynote, Prof. Sood stressed that science and technology must serve rural communities and help them overcome local challenges through accessible, high-quality solutions. He called for greater standardisation and inter-centre coordination to ensure scalable and impactful innovations. Dr. Maini urged that technologies developed under RuTAG be systematically taken to the field through partnerships with self-help groups, micro-enterprises, and local innovators.
Prof. Devendra Jalihal encouraged centres to prioritise technologies with clear deployment potential and measurable outcomes. During the event, Prof. Sood released the RuTAG 2.0 Annual Progress Report 2024–25, featuring more than 56 ongoing rural development projects. He also inaugurated the Centre for Innovation in Agri & Aqua Voltaics (CIAAV) and the Integrated Facility for Wellness-Product Innovation (IFWPI) at IIT Guwahati.
A grassroots innovation exhibition and drone demonstrations formed key highlights. Representatives from multiple ministries and agencies participated in stakeholder discussions aimed at strengthening rural technology adoption. The event concluded with deliberations on the future roadmap for RuTAG 2.0.
