Extension efforts in India have passed through several phases from the pre-British period to the present scenario. In the pre-British period, villages were self-sufficient with a panchayat system of local governance. During the British government period, efforts were limited until famines in the late 19th century prompted establishment of commissions and rural development departments. In the pre-independence era, some isolated efforts were made by individuals and organizations but lacked government support and evaluation. Currently, extension occurs through state agriculture departments, agricultural universities, farmer field schools, private companies, ICT approaches, and innovative public-private models, though remote areas remain underserved and a largely supply-driven approach still dominates.