Concerted efforts of the people have propelled the country into one of the technologically advanced Nation. But, a large section of the rural India is still struggling for their survival due to poor infra structure for education and skill upgradation. It is the fact that more than 80 percent population of the country lives in rural areas. Considering such situation, Radhakrishan Commission (India’s first education commission) in 1949 had emphasised the need for rural universities in the interest on radical changes in education. A rural university was therefore conceived and established by the great Visionary Padma Vibhushan Nana Ji Deshmukh at Chitrakoot named Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya by the Government of Madhya Pradesh through legislature by an Act (9, 1991) on February 12, 1991. The University is located on the bank of holy river Mandakini near Sphatikshila at Chitrakoot, Satna, M.P. In the year 2015 university accredited as grade “A” by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in first cycle.

The University is mandated to develop human resource for the economic and social development of rural people; and develops and disseminates rural technology. The broad vision of the University is to develop human resource for promoting activities related to socio-economic development of rural community and to improve quality of life of deprived masses through purposeful education in multidimensional field. The University has a mandate to evolve, promote and impart knowledge and skill to overcome the emerging challenges, create confidence among the rural community and make the use of recent advances in the field of higher education for spiritual and social transformation of rural people.

The message is embedded in the emblem of the University in the form of ‘Padukas’. The motto of the University is the village is the universe in miniature. It also focuses on the problem solving action research and transferring the viable technologies to answer problems confronted by the rural majority.

In order to carry out its mandate, there are five faculties and within them are 15 departments and two independent entities- Distance Education Centre and Community College. Inter- disciplinary approach has been adopted for multidimensional growth of rural sector through advanced technology of teaching and learning. The University offers multidisciplinary higher education courses up to doctoral level in the disciplines of agriculture and animal sciences,

applied sciences, environment, remote sensing and GIS, agricultural engineering, food technology, information technology, management, education, languages, communication, fine arts, humanities, social sciences etc. Those who are not able to attend regular classes due to economic or other service commitments, the University has established a good number of Distance Education Centers in the state of Madhya Pradesh for imparting higher education. Though the University is unitary in character, yet, the University has introduced Community College scheme to impart the skill oriented courses of different levels viz. Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Certificate programmes through 30 Gramodaya Community Colleges located in different areas of MP. University have running skill development courses in many discipline under DDUK. The University has conceived various skill development courses after due consultation with the stakeholders and the same is made available to the community Colleges to be adopted in the programmes run by them. Need based specific programmes are also introduced as per the regional demand of the community.

Both the top down and bottom-up approaches are used effectively to implement academic policies. In order to promote skill education, the University has already introduced B.Voc. programme in nine streams on the guidelines suggested by National Skill Development council and further, it has also introduced BSW i.e. Bachelor Degree in Social Work (Community Leadership) for functionaries of state Govt. agencies for carrying out Govt. programmes.

This University is the first in the state using 100% surveillance and thumb impression attendance. Strenuous efforts are on to make the campus eco-friendly and reduce carbon footprint. Less paper work in office is in operation, however the thrust is to turn it into paperless e-governance. Every faculty of the University has maintained smart classes and virtual classes for interactive teaching. Campus is well equipped with Wi-Fi facility.