NABARD Launches RSVC-AMRIT Platform to Strengthen Rural Innovation and Technology Transfer
Principal Scientific Adviser inaugurates digital platform to connect validated technologies with rural communities through the RuTAGe Smart Village Centre ecosystem
NABARD, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (OPSA), has developed the RSVC-AMRIT platform for rural innovation and technology transfer. AMRIT (Accelerated Medium for Rural Innovations and Technologies) is a digital backbone created to strengthen the RuTAGe Smart Village Centre (RSVC) ecosystem and support technology-led rural development.
The platform was launched on the 80th Independence Day by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in the presence of Dr. Shaji Krishnan V., Chairman, NABARD, along with representatives of various organisations and stakeholders.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood described the launch of the RSVC-AMRIT Platform as a significant step towards bridging the gap between India's innovation ecosystem and the needs of rural communities. He highlighted that while the country has strong scientific and technological capabilities, the key challenge is ensuring that innovations reach farmers, rural entrepreneurs and households at scale. He noted that RSVCs provide a structured mechanism for last-mile dissemination of validated technologies and startup solutions through NABARD's extensive rural network.
Emphasising technology-led rural entrepreneurship, Prof. Sood stated that the AMRIT Platform will serve as the digital backbone of the RSVC ecosystem by enabling technology dissemination, collaboration, monitoring, impact assessment and feedback from rural communities. He expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen rural innovation, create livelihood opportunities and accelerate inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Shaji Krishnan V., Chairman, NABARD, said that India's challenge lies not in the lack of innovations but in bridging the gap between rural needs, technologies, validation mechanisms, implementation agencies and finance. He described the AMRIT platform as an enabler of faster and more transparent technology adoption in rural areas.
Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Krishnan noted that the platform will help rural communities identify suitable validated solutions while reducing information asymmetry. He also emphasised the collaboration between NABARD and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, stressing the importance of convergence among research institutions, innovators, startups, government agencies, financial institutions and community organisations. He further observed that the success of AMRIT and RSVCs should be measured through field-level adoption, livelihood enhancement, productivity gains, and benefits reaching farmers, women, youth and rural entrepreneurs, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The RSVC initiative facilitates the transfer of appropriate and affordable technologies from research institutions, innovators and startups to rural communities through local technology hubs established at the village level. Technologies related to agriculture, rural enterprises, renewable energy, education, assistive technologies, water and sanitation, and citizen services are being promoted through the initiative.
Earlier, NABARD entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) and NABFOUNDATION, a subsidiary of NABARD, and established the National Centre of Excellence on RSVCs.
The RSVCs will be established by NABARD through its own assistance as well as in collaboration with various corporates under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. NABFOUNDATION will serve as a key implementation partner for CSR-supported RSVC projects.