Rural social assistance and welfare programmes in India constitute a vital pillar of the country’s rural development strategy, aimed at reducing poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion among disadvantaged sections of society. Given the large rural population dependent on agriculture and informal livelihoods, these programmes seek to provide minimum social security, ensure basic living standards, and protect rural households against risks arising from unemployment, old age, disability, illness, hunger, and social marginalization. Over time, India has evolved a comprehensive framework of welfare interventions combining rights-based entitlements, targeted assistance, and development-linked support, implemented largely through the central and state governments with local institutions playing a key role. One of the most significant rural social assistance programmes is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which provides a legal guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. This programme functions both as a social assistance and livelihood security measure by ensuring income support during periods of unemployment or agricultural lean seasons. It also contributes to asset creation in rural areas through works related to water conservation, land development, irrigation, and rural connectivity. By offering equal wages to men and women and emphasizing transparency through social audits, it has played a role in empowering rural workers and strengthening grassroots democracy. Social security for vulnerable groups in rural areas is largely addressed through the National Social Assistance Programme. This programme represents a direct social assistance mechanism targeting individuals who are unable to support themselves adequately. It includes pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities belonging to below poverty line households, as well as assistance to families in the event of the death of the primary breadwinner. These cash transfers, though modest in amount, provide a crucial safety net for individuals with little or no earning capacity, helping them meet basic consumption needs and maintain dignity in old age or distress situations. Food security forms another cornerstone of rural welfare policy. The Public Distribution System, strengthened under the National Food Security Act, aims to ensure access to subsidized food grains for eligible rural households. Through this system, priority households receive rice, wheat, and coarse grains at highly subsidized prices, reducing the risk of hunger and malnutrition. In rural areas where income insecurity