The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) is an Institute of National Importance located at Sriperumbudur in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. It functions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and serves as a specialised institution for youth development through academic programmes, training, research, extension and outreach.
| Name | Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | RGNIYD |
| Location | Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Type | Institute of National Importance |
| Established by | Act of Parliament No. 35 of 2012 |
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India |
| Named after | Rajiv Gandhi |
RGNIYD was conceived as the apex institution in India for matters relating to youth development. It is named after Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India, who is associated with policy initiatives lowering the voting age and emphasising youth participation in national life. The institute is situated at Sriperumbudur, the place associated with his memorial.
Through Act No. 35 of 2012 of the Indian Parliament, RGNIYD was conferred the status of an Institute of National Importance, placing it in the same category as institutions such as the IITs and AIIMS in terms of statutory standing, while focusing exclusively on the field of youth work and youth studies.
The institute carries out a range of activities aligned with the National Youth Policy of the Government of India:
RGNIYD offers programmes through specialised departments and centres dealing with subjects such as youth empowerment, life skills education, social work, applied psychology, gender studies, development studies, and rural and tribal development. Programmes include master's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and research programmes leading to a Ph.D., along with short-term certificate courses for practitioners.
RGNIYD is the only Institute of National Importance in India dedicated to the youth sector. It plays a role in shaping policy inputs for the National Youth Policy, in professionalising the discipline of youth work, and in producing trained personnel for governmental and non-governmental youth organisations across the country.