With reference to Barefoot College, consider the following statements: 1. It is located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. 2. The college focuses primarily on providing formal degrees to urban youth. 3. The institution was established in the year 1972. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Barefoot College founder Sanjit Bunker Roy dies at home in Tilonia at 81

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Vulnerable sections (SC/ST, minorities, disabled, elderly, children)· Mains· 10 November 2026

Community-led rural development and non-formal education models for GS2 Social Justice.

Why in news

The death of Sanjit Bunker Roy, founder of Barefoot College, highlights the significance of community-led rural development and women's empowerment models based on Gandhian philosophy.

Background

Sanjit Bunker Roy founded the Social Work and Research Centre (Barefoot College) in Tilonia, Rajasthan in 1972. The institution focuses on training rural people without formal education in solar energy, water conservation, and healthcare.

Facts for Prelims

PlaceTilonia is located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan.
FactBarefoot College was established in 1972.
S&TBarefoot College trains rural women to install and maintain solar lighting systems.
PostSanjit Bunker Roy was the founder of Barefoot College and the Social Work and Research Centre.

Prelims practice question

With reference to Barefoot College, consider the following statements:

It is located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan.
The college focuses primarily on providing formal degrees to urban youth.
The institution was established in the year 1972.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)3 only
(b)1 and 3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: It focuses on training rural people without formal education.

For Mains

Q. Discuss how community-led models like Barefoot College can effectively address rural development and women's empowerment in India.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Decentralized empowerment: Leveraging local knowledge and non-formal education to achieve sustainable rural development.
Gender-inclusive infrastructure: Training marginalized women as primary technicians for solar energy and water conservation.
Gandhian philosophy: Aligning rural development with self-reliance (Swadeshi) and village-centric economic models.

Keywords: Rural Development · Women Empowerment · Gandhian Philosophy · Non-formal Education · Sustainable Development · Community Participation

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