Broad Research Areas (ASRI- Cohort IV)

1. Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
This theme explores the backbone of the rural economy – agriculture and allied activities. It looks at farming practices, challenges faced by farmers and the intersection of agriculture with broader economic well-being of rural communities.
• Agriculture productivity and farming practices
• Livestock and dairy farming
• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Forest-based livelihoods
• Farm credit; rural debt and agrarian distress
• Agricultural Markets
• Land ownership and agrarian structures
• Women in agriculture; women farmers
• Gendered/caste processes in agriculture and allied activities
• Agri-digital tools, e-NAM, FPO digitization, digital advisories, climate-smart technologies

2. Non-Farm Sector and Rural Economy Diversification
This theme focuses on the growing importance of the non-farm sector as a livelihood source for rural populations. It includes industries such as handicrafts, small-scale manufacturing, and services that help diversify rural incomes and reduce dependence on agriculture.

• Rural industry (e.g., handlooms, handicrafts, food processing, etc.)
• Construction sector
• Rural retail and local markets
• Services sector in rural areas
• Rural women’s participation in non-farm enterprises
• Farming systems, livestock, fisheries, value chains, and income security
• Microfinance, SHGs & Financial Inclusion; Focus: SHG functioning, banking access, digital payments, credit linkages
• Market Access, Value Chains & Rural Entrepreneurship; Focus: Producer groups, market linkages, pricing, storage and logistics

3. Labour, Livelihoods and Employment
This theme examines rural labour markets, employment patterns, and the challenges faced by rural workers, including issues related to informal labour, wage disparities, and government employment schemes like MGNREGA.
• Agricultural labour markets, labour market segmentation and wage disparity
• Informal sector labour and working conditions
• Employment schemes (MGNREGA, Skill Development)
• Child labour and youth employment in rural areas
• Gender disparities in rural work and employment, and rural women’s participation in labour force
• Impact of technology and mechanisation on rural labour especially women
• Youth Development, Skills & Employability; Focus: Skill training, aspirations, entrepreneurship, career pathways

4. Migration and Mobility
This theme delves into migration patterns—both seasonal and permanent—between rural and urban areas. It investigates the drivers of migration, its socio-economic impacts, and the role of remittances in supporting rural households.
• Rural-to-urban and rural-to-rural migration patterns
• Remittances and their impact on rural households
• Internal migration and displacement due to infrastructure development, mining, industrialisation or climate change
• Migration policies and welfare for migrant workers and their unmigrated families
• Migration, Urban Linkages & Informal Work; Focus: Seasonal migration, remittances, urban-rural linkages, informal labour conditions

5. Social Identity and Inequality
This theme explores the layers of social inequality in rural India, with a focus on caste, gender, and class dynamics. It investigates how these factors shape access to resources, opportunities, and the lived experiences of marginalised communities.
• Caste-based and gender-based discrimination in rural areas
• Rural poverty and socio-economic stratification
• Intersectionality of caste, gender, and class
• Disability in Rural Areas
• Gender, Care Economy & Social Justice; Focus: Women’s empowerment, livelihoods, leadership, unpaid care work, rights and safety
• Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing; Focus: Stress, substance use, access to care, stigma in rural settings

6. Environment and Climate Change
This theme looks at the impact of environmental change on rural communities, particularly the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture, water resources, and rural livelihoods.
• Climate change impacts on agriculture
• Water scarcity and rural resource management
• Use of toxic chemicals in agriculture
• Soil health and land degradation
• Climate Action & Natural Resource Management; Focus: Water conservation, forests, land use, biodiversity, climate adaptation and resilience
• Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Resilience; Focus: Floods, droughts, heat stress, preparedness planning, early warning systems.
• Renewable Energy & Energy Access; Focus: Solar energy, clean cooking fuels, electricity access, energy infrastructure
• Environment, Pollution & Public Health Linkages; Focus: Air and water pollution, waste management, health-environment connections
• Waste Management & Circular Economy; Focus: Solid waste, plastic management, composting, recycling practices
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Cultural Practices; Focus: Traditional agriculture, seed conservation, customary institutions, cultural heritage
• Culture, Arts & Community Heritage; Focus: Folk traditions, crafts, cultural livelihoods, heritage conservation, local practices, other cultural documentation, impact on social and economic lives in rural communities

7. Governance, Decentralisation and Policy
This theme examines the role of governance structures in shaping rural development, with a focus on decentralisation, local self-governance, land rights, and the effectiveness of policies designed to improve the rural economy.
• Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act) and rural political participation and decision-making, Focus:Gram Sabha processes, planning, budgeting, decentralised governance.
• Land rights, Forest Rights Act (FRA), and community land management
• Community-based resource management and village commons
• Food Security
• Rights, Governance & Social Protection; Focus: FRA, MGNREGA, PDS, health insurance, pensions, local governance mechanisms
• Rural Infrastructure, Housing & Basic Services; Focus: Housing, sanitation, drinking water, roads, electricity and energy access
• Public Policy Implementation & Service Delivery; Focus: Last-mile delivery of schemes, implementation gaps, administrative systems
• Digital Inclusion & E-Governance; Focus: Access to digital services, CSCs, Aadhaar- linked schemes, digital literacy
• Land Rights, Tenure Security & FRA Implementation; Focus: Land records, forest rights, tenure security, community claims
• Food Security & Nutrition Systems; Focus: PDS effectiveness, ICDS, mid-day meals, dietary diversity, malnutrition mapping
• Community Health & Health Infrastructure; Focus: PHCs and sub-centres, infrastructure gaps, service delivery, nutrition and public health
• Education & Digital Inclusion; Focus: School infrastructure, digital access, learning outcomes, literacy and retention