The Gandhigram Rural Institute

About

Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) is a Deemed University with a uniqueness that it has developed academic programmes in Rural Development, Rural Economics and Extension Education, Rural Oriented Sciences, Cooperation, Development Administration, Rural Sociology, English and Communicative Studies, and, Tamil and Indian Languages. The university curriculum is based on revolutionary concept of ‘Nai Talim’ system of education. A team of dedicated disciples and contemporaries of Gandhiji, Dr. T.S. Soundaram and Dr. G. Ramachandran, developed Gandhigram, the home of many rural development programmes. The university was founded in 1956 and students who emerge from its portals tend to meet the personnel needs for rural development under various governmental and non-governmental schemes. The Government of India (Ministry of Education), on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, conferred the status of a Deemed University on the Institute under Section (3) of the UGC Act of 1956, on 3rd August, 1976.

All programmes of the University are offered under the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS), allowing the students a choice in the selection of courses. As per the CBCS, the students, according to their ability and aptitude, drop / substitute courses, study / repeat courses and study inter-departmental / intra-departmental elective courses. This is a unique flexible education system through which students themselves can chalk out a viable academic agenda. Students can choose any one of the following language, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, French in the first year. The institute is fully funded by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. The Gandhigram Rural Institute has a campus of nearly 200 acres in a rural setting, nestling in one of the enclaves of the beautiful Sirumalai range.

Some Highlights of The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Dindigul

Why Choose GRI-DU, Dindigul?

1. Rich Legacy & Vision – Established in 1956 by disciples of Mahatma Gandhi, GRI embodies the Gandhian ideals of value-based education, rural development, and self-reliance, making it unique among Indian universities.

2. Deemed University Status – Recognized by the UGC and funded by the Government of India, GRI has grown into a nationally reputed institution for higher education, research, and extension activities.

3. Wide Range of Programmes – The university offers UG, PG, M.Phil., Ph.D., and diploma courses across diverse fields including rural development, agriculture, engineering, sciences, social sciences, health, and management, integrating academics with community development.

4. Community-Oriented Learning – True to its Gandhian roots, GRI blends classroom teaching with fieldwork and rural engagement, providing students with hands-on experience and social responsibility.

5. Research & Rural Innovation – With strong emphasis on sustainable development, agriculture, rural industries, renewable energy, and women empowerment, GRI has made a remarkable impact through research and rural technology transfer.

6. Green & Peaceful Campus – Located in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, the campus offers a serene and eco-friendly environment that fosters holistic learning and personal growth.

7. National Recognition & Accreditation – GRI is NAAC accredited with ‘A’ Grade, reflecting its academic excellence, strong faculty, and impactful extension activities.

Vision & Mission of The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Dindigul

Vision

• Promotion of a casteless and classless society through instruction, research and extension.

Mission

• Providing knowledge support to rural sector to usher in a self-reliant, self-sufficient and self-governed society.

Admission Procedure

GRI Dindigul Courses are offered at UG, PG, Doctorate level. There are 158 courses offered at GRI Dindigul. The courses are offered disciplines like Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts. GRI Dindigul courses includes Ph.D, B.Sc, B.Sc {Hons.}, PG Diploma, M.Sc, B.Tech, B.Com, MCA, B.Ed, BBA. Popular courses at GRI Dindigul are Ph.D, B.Sc, B.Sc {Hons.}.

Admission Criteria

B.Tech Admission 2026

Gandhinagar Rural Institute B.Tech program offers in Civil Engineering. For admission to the B.Tech (Civil Engineering) program, candidates Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and 45% aggregate (40% for SC/ST). Students are selected based on CUET-UG or state-level counselling (merit-based). The total fee for the B.Tech program is INR 1.76 Lakhs.

B.Sc Admission 2026

Gandhigram Rural Institute B.Sc program offers 5 specialisations, such as Microbiology, Chemistry, Home Science, Geology, and Mathematics.
For admission to the B.Sc program, candidates must have a Passed 10+2 with required subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Science). Students are selected based on CUET UG. The total fee for the B.Sc program ranged between INR 61,630 - 2.66 Lakhs.

PG Diploma Admission 2026

Gandhigram Rural Institute PG Diploma offers 8 specialisations, such as Sanitary Inspector, Spatial Technologies, Yoga Education & Philosophy, Gerontology, Epigraphy, and Sustainable, Social Development.

PhD Admission 2026

Gandhigram Rural Institute PhD program offers 34 specialisations, such as Chemistry, Food Science And Nutrition, Cooperation, Microbiology, Rural Health, Physics, Applied Geology, Mathematics, Development Studies, Botany, etc. The total fee for the PhD program is INR 55,150 - 72,150.

Placements

The placement percentage in The Gandhigram Rural Institute is very moderate, and only 50% to 60% of the students got placement every year. The last batch had 70 students and out of which 40 got placed in the chemical companies. They provide a minimum salary of Rs. 15,000 for everyone who got placed.

Scholarship

• Specimen - SC/ST/SCC (HESS Forms) Specimen - Fresh Application form for BC MBC DNC DNT Students
• Specimen - Renewal SC Scholarship Application form
• Specimen - Renewal Application form for BC MBC DNC DNT Students 2021 2022
• Specimen - Fresh SC/ST/SCC Scholarship Application form 2022-23
• Specimen - SC/ST/SCC Tuition Fee Concession form Blank form - SC/ST/SCC (HESS Forms)
• GRI Hostel Students only Blank form - Fresh BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship
• Blank form - Fresh SC/ST/SCC Scholarship Application 2022-23 Blank form - Renewal BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship Application
• Blank form - Renewal SC Scholarship Application
• Blank form - SC/ST/SCC Tuition Fee Concession Adi Dravidar Welfare Department (Chief Minister Award) Form - Tamil SC/ST Ph.D Scholars Scholarship Application form TN Chief Minister - Uzhavar Scholarship Application form SC/ST Students Grievance Form SC/ST Employee Grievance Form

The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University, Dindigul

The Library is named after the Founder Vice-Chancellor Dr. G. Ramachandran. The total area of the Library building is about 12600 sq.ft. It has a stock of over 1.5 lakh books.The Library has been computerised for circulation and searching of books with SOUL (Software for University Libraries), developed by INFLIBNET Centre (An IUC of the University Grants Commission), Ahmedabad. The digitization of library documents is also under progress. The Library has UGC-INFONET E-journals access facility with 1 GB connectivity provided by UGC- INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad through ERNET India, New Delhi.

Foreign applicants should produce a valid student visa (research visa in case of Ph D programmes), medical fitness certificate as per the norms of the Government of India and a certificate of financial guarantee at the time of seeking admission. If admitted, they will be governed by such rules and regulations as may be framed by the Government of India and by the authorities of GRI from time to time. Students from Srilanka, SAARC and developing countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria will have to pay the fee and caution deposit on par with Indian students. This will not be applicable to fellowship holders of these countries. For all other foreign students the fee will be four time of Indian students and caution deposit will be Rs.10, 000/- all payable in . NRI students will be treated as foreigners. For further details contact the Director, Cell for International Relations, GRI, Gandhigram.

It has a number of systems which are connected via LAN and WAN It has Internet facility provide by Railtel Broadband with bandwidth of 8 Mbps. Apart from these, the centre has other equipments like video blasters, LCD projectors, video cameras, digital cameras etc.The Centre is offering an interdisciplinary research program with gender perspective leading to Ph. D degree.The course carries 0+4 credit. It is a field based course conducted in a village for a period of 7 days at the beginning of the Third semester for all the programmes. Each student, at the end of the course will be evaluated for 100 marks

Centre for Indigenous Knowledge in Agriculture (CIKA) documents, analyzes, validates, standardizes and further propagate the Indigenous Knowledge/ Practices in Agricultural and allied fields under various farming systems of Tamil Nadu. Interested staff, students and researchers of Gandhigram Rural University having flair in the field of Indigenous Knowledge can become the members of IK Study Forum. Along with them, NGOs, farmers and independent researchers engaging themselves in IK field can also enrol as members of this forum. A research/ resource book entitled Indigenous Agricultural Practices for Sustainable Farming has already been published through Agrobios (India) Ltd., Jodhpur

The students of GRI are involved in various Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular activities such as Shramdhan, Shanti Sena, NSS, Cultural Cell, Sarvodaya Study Circle, Departmental Associations, Student Clubs, Centre for Media and Culture and Sports and Games.

Transport

The nearest railway station is Ambathurai, the nearest major railway junction is Dindigul and the nearest major city is Madurai. The nearest airport is Madurai Airport.