Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026: SARAS Aajeevika Showcase
Why in the news
The Ministry of Rural Development is convening a national conclave of rural development ministers and officials in Delhi, with a showcase of products made by women’s self-help groups.
Key facts
- Event: Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan (RGVS) 2026.
- Dates and venue: 28-29 June 2026, ICAR-NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.
- Inaugurated by: Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- Participants: Union and State rural development ministers, MoS, senior central and state officials, State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) representatives, industry, NGOs, academia and SHG leaders.
- Aim: deliberate on the roadmap for a developed rural India.
- Highlight: SARAS Aajeevika Gallery displaying products of women-led SHGs under DAY-NRLM.
SARAS Aajeevika
A national branding and marketing initiative of the Ministry that gives SHG products a distinct national identity.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| SARAS (brand) | Original umbrella brand for SHG products |
| SARAS Aajeevika (brand) | Premium brand for curated, quality products |
| Aajeevika (brand) | Generic livelihoods-focused brand |
| SARAS Aajeevika Gallery | Permanent retail space at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi |
| eSARAS | E-commerce platform plus mobile app |
| SARAS Melas | Exhibitions at national, regional, state and district levels |
| Tie-ups | Government, corporate and bulk gifting markets |
Related schemes and concepts
- Lakhpati Didi: a DAY-NRLM drive that treats women SHG members with sustainable annual income of at least ₹1 lakh as “Lakhpati Didis”. The 6 crore target, announced by PM Modi on Independence Day 2024, was raised from 3 crore announced in 2023.
- DAY-NRLM: flagship rural poverty alleviation programme of the Ministry of Rural Development; begun in 2011 as NRLM and renamed DAY-NRLM in 2015. It organises poor rural women into SHGs, federates them into Village Organisations and Cluster-Level Federations, and offers capacity-building, financial inclusion, skills and market access. It draws World Bank assistance, covers all 28 states and 8 UTs, and SRLMs lead state-level delivery.
- SHGs: voluntary groups of 10-20 rural poor women who save regularly, lend among themselves and later get bank credit (SHG-Bank Linkage Programme since 1992). Promoted by NABARD, MoRD and DAY-NRLM.
- ICAR-NASC: ICAR’s administrative and conference hub at Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
Exam angle
- Organiser: Ministry of Rural Development; venue ICAR-NASC, Pusa.
- Three SARAS brands: SARAS, SARAS Aajeevika, Aajeevika; online arm eSARAS.
- DAY-NRLM: started 2011, renamed 2015; Lakhpati Didi target 6 crore.