Overview
Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya (MGCGV) is a state university located at Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is recognised as the first rural university in the country, established with the aim of advancing rural studies and development through higher education.
The university was established in 1991. It has been known by earlier names, including Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidhayalay and Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, before adopting its present designation.
Drawing inspiration from the Gandhian philosophy of gramodaya, or the upliftment of villages, the institution is oriented towards rural-centric academic and applied programmes. Its location in Chitrakoot, a town with religious and cultural significance in central India, reflects this focus on rural India and allied disciplines.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya.