Historically, technology development for rural areas has followed tinkering approach or use of rudimentary technology. It is shown that very sophisticated science and technology is needed for producing devices for rural applications. This process can also result in fundamental research.

The technological and economic advances has only widened the urban-rural divide leaving the majority of the population of the country languishing in preindependence conditions. Over the years, several government agencies and a large number of voluntary organisations were involved in developing technologies that cater to the development of rural India. Unfortunately, these technologies hardly touched the lives of rural population. The one technology that has the potential to enrich rural lives and promises to bring in revolutionary changes is - geospatial technology.

Although pottery is an age old craft and a rural tradition in India, it continues without any modern technical interventions in tiny segments with outdated and inefficient technologies. This sector has not succeeded in responding to the newer demands of the market as well. Innovative technological inputs are required in improving the throwing wheel involving the technology of modern clay pottery with reduced energy and time consumption and increased speed of operations.

There is an acute shortage of power for decentralized communities of the rural sector in India even after installing power generation capacity of about 110,000 MW. In order to meet rural energy needs, the decentralized power generation is an alternative measure and can be produced through renewable energy sources. There is tremendous potential of utilizing biomass in India, but direct use of biomass leads to inefficiency. Therefore in order to effectively utilize biomass, it is converted into biofuels such as biodiesels, ethanol, biogas and producer gas etc.

Present aims to discuss innovative features and systems approach adopted in implementing time bound and technology based developmental projects under the Science and Society Programme of Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi which have resulted in some technology models/packages for rural application and poverty reduction showing potential for replication in other areas.