About Rural India Conference, 2024

India's economic landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the past three decades, marked by a robust expansion in the manufacturing and service sectors. The manufacturing sector's output has surged, reflecting an eight-fold increase, while the services sector now constitutes a greater portion of the GDP, underscoring its growing importance in the economy. Concurrently, the agricultural sector's contribution to the GDP has diminished, signalling a shift towards a more diversified economic structure. This evolution has had a profound impact on the rural economy, ushering in improved public services, infrastructure, and a broader range of opportunities that fuel rural ambitions. Despite these advancements, rural India continues to grapple with challenges such as regional imbalances, environmental concerns, agricultural sustainability, innovation deficits, resource accessibility, climate change effects, policy effectiveness, job diversification, and the need for reforms to attract private investment.

The Rural India Conference 2024 is a learning event, bringing together various stakeholders under the collaborative efforts of the World Bank's Agriculture and Food Global Practice, the Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project (Govt. of Tamil Nadu), and with support from the Gates Foundation and GDi Partners. This conference aims to address key issues and foster sustainable development in India's rural sectors. It is a platform for sharing knowledge, innovative solutions, and best practices to drive transformation and growth in the rural economy.

This conference promises to be a melting pot of ideas, featuring a rich tapestry of perspectives from various sectors such as government, civil society, the private sector, and academia. This event is not just a gathering but a collaborative effort that transcends geographical boundaries, with experts from both within and outside India contributing to the dialogue.