The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University
Established in 1956 by Dr. G. Ramachandran and Dr. T. S. Soundaram Ramachandran, The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University is rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s Nai Talim philosophy. As a rural higher education institution under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, GRI integrates value-based teaching, research and extension to serve and transform rural communities.
Legacy of pioneers
150+ years of research-first pedagogy and civc leadership.
Global classrooms
Immersive residencies with universities and labs across five continents.
Mentor pods
Industry mentors and alumni coaches guiding every cohort from day one.
Cross-disciplinary focus
Unity in diversity across 12 schools and research pods.
Immersive walkthrough
Discover how Gandhigram University’s mentor pods and innovation studios craft leaders for tomorrow.
Scale and purpose crafted over generations
Our metrics go beyond rankings—every partnership, research dossier, and alumni journey feeds India’s innovation economy and social progress.
Global alliances
320+
Industry collaborations, global residencies, and living labs in 18 countries.
Innovation studios
45
XR arenas, maker pods, and sustainability labs that stay open 24/7.
Years of excellence
Founded in 1874 with a vision to elevate Indian innovation through education.
Alumni worldwide
Gandhigram University changemakers leading policy, technology, and social ventures in 70+ countries.
Research publications each year
Peer-reviewed output in partnership with government, industry, and global institutes.
Community partners
NGOs and enterprises powering living labs for rural resilience and urban innovation.
Transforming ambition into meaningful change for India and the world
The Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed to be University’s mission is to create transformative learning experiences that blend liberal education, rural development, technology, and impact-driven research. We nurture leaders who align purpose with performance.
Our vision is to be the most trusted Indian university for future builders—where interdisciplinary studios, inclusive communities, and global partnerships converge for progress.
Academic excellence
Benchmark curricula across 12 schools with global accreditations and outcome metrics.
Innovation studios
Live industry briefs, venture pods, and maker labs embedded in every semester.
Mission insight
Leadership symposia, alumni councils, and student forums chart India’s future builders.
Inclusive culture
Scholarships, wellness ecosystems, and mentorship circles empowering every Gandhigram student.
Global impact
Strategic collaborations solving challenges across the Global South and beyond.
Living labs
Climate-positive campuses and innovation districts co-created with civic partners.
30
Labs
18
Cities
Chapters that shaped Gandhigram University
From a pioneering campus in 1874 to a future-ready innovation hub today, our story is one of relentless reinvention.
Founded in Dindigul
Establishes a mission to democratise access to high-quality higher education in South India.
A liberal arts and sciences campus opens with India’s earliest mixed-discipline studios.
Evolution Index
Graduate expansion
Launches postgraduate schools in engineering, humanities, and agriculture for a growing nation.
Postgraduate centres respond to the young nation’s call for engineers, agronomists, and writers.
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Innovation frontier
Opens India’s first university-run computer science department with ISRO collaborations.
Computer science collaborations with ISRO broadcast research-led innovation across India.
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Global alliances
Signs exchange partnerships with leading universities across Europe, North America, and ASEAN.
Global alliances unlock exchange semesters and co-innovation labs on three continents.
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Digital transformation
Deploys blended learning studios, virtual labs, and open learning platforms nationwide.
Hybrid studios blend digital platforms with on-ground residencies for learners nationwide.
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Future-ready Gandhigram University
Unveils climate-positive campuses, AI research clusters, and Social Impact Living Labs.
Gandhigram University unveils climate-positive campuses and AI clusters guiding next-generation impact.
Evolution Index