Overview
The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) is an Institution of National Importance located at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. It functions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and was conferred the status of an Institution of National Importance by Act of Parliament No. 35 of 2012. The institute was originally established in 1993 under the Societies Registration Act (XXVII of 1975).
RGNIYD is described as India's first institute focused on youth development and as South Asia's first institute dedicated to addressing youth issues and promoting prospects for youth development. It serves as a think-tank for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and acts as an organiser of youth-related activities at the national level.
The institute offers postgraduate academic programmes in areas related to youth development, including Gender Studies, Development Studies, Local Governance, Counselling Psychology, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Social Work. It also offers doctoral programmes across various social science disciplines. Alongside teaching, RGNIYD undertakes research in the field of youth development and coordinates training programmes for officials of state agencies and youth organisations.
RGNIYD collaborates with bodies such as the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), among other youth organisations, to design and implement training initiatives. The institute also engages in extension and outreach activities across the country. It developed the India Youth Development Index, which was prepared entirely by RGNIYD as the first such index in the country.