Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

This study critically examines Smart Village frameworks in India through the lens of international experience, national initiatives, and recent ICT adoption surveys. It reviews six functional dimensions governance, technology, resources, services, quality of living, and tourism and analyses the digital adoption barriers that shape rural transformation. Drawing on secondary data from NABARD (2024) [7], MeitY (2023) [15], and the World Bank (2024) [12], the paper proposes a capability-based assessment model that links ICT access with social and institutional freedoms. The findings highlight that digital infrastructure alone is insufficient; community capability, institutional coordination, and adaptive learning determine whether Smart Villages become sustainable engines of rural development. Policy recommendations emphasize inclusive digital literacy, resilient local institutions, and performance frameworks aligned with Sen’s (1999) [19] capability approach to ensure that Smart Villages evolve as integrated, participatory systems of growth and human empowerment.