School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies (SGTDS), was established in 1984 as one of the five founding schools of Mahatma Gandhi University. The School is recognized as one of the leading educational and research institutions in the areas of Gandhian thought, peace studies, development studies and related areas.

Ever since its inception in 1984, SGTDS is into offering multidisciplinary programmes at various levels, undertaking research projects, and initiating discussions and debates of serious academic nature on several issues through conferences and publications. The initial objective of the School was to develop a full-fledged academic centre for teaching and research in Gandhian philosophy and allied fields such as peace science, rural development, alternative education, social work, etc.

As part of this objective, the School initiated a master’s program in Gandhian Studies in 1984. Later on, addressing the emerging discourse on issues in development in India, the School expanded its focus further by adding the component of development studies. That is how the second masters’ programme in Development Studies came into being in the mid-nineties.

The school presently offers post-graduate and doctoral programmes in both Gandhian Studies and development studies. The thrust areas of taught and research programmes being offered at the School include; Gandhian philosophy, Peace and Conflict Studies, Rural Development, Decentralization, Gender and Development, Environmental and Human Rights Issues, Issues in Development, Applied Economics, Alternative Education, Livelihood of Marginalized People, Life-Worlds of Migrant Labourers, Social Movements, Comparative Religion, Intercultural Studies, Studies of Indigenous Communities, Participatory Governance, Innovation Studies, Social Entrepreneurship, etc.

Faculty members of the School have gained extensive teaching, research and consultancy experience of working with universities, research centres and policy-making bodies at the national and international levels. They are recognized as experts in various fields of social sciences such as Gandhian Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies, Education, Political Sciences, Economics, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Gender Studies, innovation studies, etc.

The School has established academic linkages with various academic institutions and governmental and non-governmental agencies inside and outside India. The scope of collaboration includes the exchange of knowledge and expertise, joint academic programmes, collaborative research projects, mutual funding for academic events (seminars, conferences, workshops etc.) and sharing of materials.