Mahatman Gandhi the father of the Indian nation championed the cause of rural development as the cornerstone of India’s Socio-Economic Progress. He believed that the soul of India resides in its villages and therefore, holistic rural development was imperative for the nation’s overall growth. Gandhi’s vision for rural development emphasized self reliance, sustainability and the empowerment of rural communities through the principals of Sarvodaya (Universal upliftment) and Gram Swaraj (Village Self-Governance). In alignment with Gandhi’s philosophy the Government of India launched the ‘Adarsh Gram Yojna’ (SAGY) in 2014. This initiative aims to develop model villages (Adarsh Gram) that demonstrate holistic development across various dimensions, including social, economic and infrastructure aspects. The scheme encourages members of parliament (MPs) to adopt and develop villages in their constituencies into model villages by leveraging existing schemes and fostering community participation.

Alka Prakash Tare, Prof. Dr.J.S.Dhayagude,"Mahatma Gandhi and Rural Development: Special Reference to Adarsh Gram Yojna" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(4): Page(614-616) July - August 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.