The concept of social sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the debate on rural development, particularly in developing countries like India, where rural-to-urban migration poses significant challenges. The concept of rural development often ignores the social dimension of sustainability. Weak definitions and random indicators further confuse the understanding of a sustainable rural community. This study presents a social sustainability index (SSI) that helps to assess the potentiality of present-day Indian villages to sustain future challenges while identifying the existing development gaps. This index incorporates various attributes centered on the social and physical aspects of the villages. SSI was determined employing 18 indicators represented on three dimensions emphasizing social integration and cohesion: (a) amenities and social infrastructure; (b) adaptability, voice, and influence; and (c) social and cultural life. The index was applied to Balaheri and Soothra villages of Rajasthan state to estimate their social sustainability. In their current form, the selected villages were found to be potentially sustainable. The SSI methodology has helped in identifying and analyzing the facets that are lagging and require government-cum-community oriented development interventions. This article examines the solidarity approach as a potential alignment with social sustainability in Indian villages, to build self-reliant and locally managed communities. Sustainable villages should instill a sense of social acceptability, well-being, and security among rural communities while ensuring equity in resource allocation and distribution. To create a more equal and balanced future for India’s rural landscapes, it is essential to embrace social sustainability through the lens of solidarity.