PGD in Rural Development: Course, Admission, Syllabus, Colleges, Distance, Jobs, Salary 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development (PRDRD) is a 1 year course that focuses on training learners to become equipped professionals in the field of Rural Development. The program involves complete know-how and research that covers all aspects of Rural Development.

The course is structured in a way that integrated knowledge of how to plan strategies for the development and management of rural areas and their implementation is provided to the students. For students, who have a zeal to work in Rural Cooperatives and Development Organizations, this is the right course.

See Also: MBA Admission Process

The approximate tuition fee for the Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development is approximately 1.6 lakhs for the General category and 1.5 lakhs for SC/ST.

Students participating in this course get well placed in Local, National and International Cooperatives, NGOs, development organizations and Funding Agencies.

Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development: Course Highlights

Course Name Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development
Course Level professional postgraduate course
Duration 1 year
Admission Process Merit based
Top Entrance Exam CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT
Eligibility Bachelor's Degree in any discipline
Top Colleges Pondicherry University, Rabindranath Tagore University, Aisect University, Hazaribagh
Fees INR 1,60,000

Why Study PGD in Rural Development?

  • Rural area is considered to be of noticeable importance in the country today.
  • It is related to improving the rural areas and their productivity, higher socio-economic equality and ambition, and stability in economic development.
  • The rural area is the basic source of Indian culture. The progress of the nation is based on the progress of villages.
  • Candidates can opt for this course to improve the productivity and wages of rural people. To guarantee increased and quick employment possibilities and demolish unemployment and bring a notable decline in underemployment. 

Who should study PGD in Rural Development?

  • The course is suitable for those candidates who are concerned about the development of rural communities and the nation's growth.
  • Those who have the ability to handle the masses and who possess leadership skills, have a friendly attitude.

PGD in Rural Development: Admission Process

PGDRD is a 1 year post graduate-level course. Students can get admission through the online method as well as offline method. National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) conducts an All India Entrance Exam followed by GD and PI rounds. Most universities offer direct admission to this course. 

PGD in Rural Development: Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma Rural Development course is 

  • A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized college or university.
  • Minimum aggregate of 50% marks in Under graduation.

PGD in Rural Development: Entrance Exam Syllabus 

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Fill in the blanks, Verbal reasoning, Sentence completion, Grammar, Syllogisms, Jumbled paragraphs, Parts of speech, Phrases modifiers, Para completion and inference, Foreign language words used in English, Reading Comprehension, Analogies, Sentence correction, Preposition, Errors in tenses, Verbal logic, Para jumbles, Different usage of same word, Idioms, Antonyms, One word substitution, Types of clauses, Articles usage.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Blood Relations, Series, Proposition, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding, Assumptions, Puzzles, Clocks and Calendars, Statements, Data Arrangement, Family Tree, Binary Logic, Seating Arrangement, Sets & Caselets, Syllogism, Data Structures, Venn Diagram, Tables, Pie Charts, Data Sufficiency, Bars & Line Graphs.
Quantitative Aptitude Ratios and Proportion, In-equations Quadratic and linear equations, Surds and Indices, Time-Speed-Distance, Geometric Progression, Binomial theorem, Number System, Geometry,Trigonometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Partnership (Accounts), Profit & Loss, Mean, mode, median, Inequalities, Work and Time, Logarithms, Percentages, Square Root and Cube Root, Probability, Simple interest and compound interest.

PGD in Rural Development Syllabus

Name of the Course
Rural Development Indian Context
Rural Development Programmes
Rural Development - Planning and Management
Rural Social Development
Rural Health Care
Communication and Extension Rural Development
Research and Project Work

PGD in Rural Development: Top Colleges

PGD in Rural Development: College Comparison

Parameters Pondicherry University - [Pu], Pondicherry Rabindranath Tagore University - [Rntu], Bhopal Aisect University, Hazaribagh
Overview PU offers UG, PG, integrated, PhD and diploma courses with the most popular programs being M.Sc and MBA/PGDM. Rabindranath Tagore University is a private institution of higher education, recognised by UGC and Government of Madhya Pradesh. AISECT University, Jharkhand offers programmes to the aspirants at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Eligibility Criteria Graduation with minimum qualifying marks Graduation with 50% marks Graduation with 45% marks
Admission Process Merit Merit Merit
Average Total Fee INR 74,718 INR 50,000 INR 18,000
Average Placement Package Per Annum INR 3.7 LPA INR 3.85 LPA INR 2.5-3 LPA
Top Companies Participate in Placement Drive Azim Premji Foundation, SRF Limited, Infotech, Honeywell Deloitte, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Accenture, etc. BSNL, NTPC, etc

PGD in Rural Development: Distance Education

Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development can be pursued as through distance education as well. There are several colleges that provides PGDRD in distance mode.

Admission Process

Admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development distance is based on merit. Some colleges also offer direct admission for this course. Candidates applying for this course must have a bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

Top Colleges

Name of the college Fees
IGNOU INR 2,400
Kakatiya University Distance Education INR 6,000

PGD in Rural Development: Jobs

Given below are the job positions for those who complete PGDRD:

Job Roles Salary
Area Executive INR 7-8 LPA
Agronomist INR 4-5 LPA
Marketing and Sales Manager INR 4-5 LPA
Research Head INR 7-8 LPA
Rural Manager INR 1-3 LPA
Senior Program Officer INR 4-5 LPA
Sugar Analyst INR 4-5 LPA
Territory In-charge INR 2-3 LPA

PGD in Rural Development: Scope

The course focuses on the training the candidates in the following areas like Agribusiness, Development project execution, Micro-finance, Development Consulting, Operations, Analytics and more. PGDRD has a wide scope not only in India but also globally. After completion of this course, students can pursue careers in a variety of rural-based enterprise segments, marketing, finance, purchase, human resource development, and project implementation.

PGD in Rural Development: FAQs

Ques. What is PGDRD?

Ans. Post Graduation Diploma in Rural Development course provides a comprehensive knowledge of socio-economic factors affecting the transformation of rural society.

Ques. What is the qualification required for PGDRD?

Ans. The qualification required for PGDRD is a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in Under graduation.

Ques. What is the benefit of doing PGDRD?

Ans. Candidates can opt for this course to improve the productivity and wages of rural people. To guarantee increased and quick employment possibilities.

Ques. What is the work of a rural development officer?

Ans. Role of a rural development officer is to promote local innovation, product services and projects. 

Ques. Is it worth doing PGDRD?

Ans. PGDRD has a wide scope. After completion of this course, students can pursue careers in a variety of rural-based enterprise segments, including marketing, finance, purchase, human resource development, and project implementation.

Ques. What are the main components of rural development?

Ans. Natural resources, agricultural and non-agricultural; Human resources, Pattern of social organization are some of the main components of rural development.

Ques. What are the main subjects of PGDRD?

Ans. The main subjects taught in PGDRD are Rural Development Indian Context, Rural Development Programmes, Rural Development - Planning and Management, Rural Social Development and more.

Ques. What is the average salary PGDRD student can get?

Ans. The average salary PGDRD student can get is INR 1-7 LPA.

Ques. How can one work on rural Development?

Ans. Job Opportunities that can be offered to one who is specialized in rural development are Rural Development Officer, National Sales Development Manager, Research Officer, Rural Minister and more. 

Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for PGDRD from IGNOU?

Ans. The eligibility criteria for PGDRD from IGNOU is a graduate degree in any discipline.

Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development : 9 answered questions

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Ques. How good is XIMB for rural management?

● Top Answer By Shivani Khanna on 19 Apr 21

Ans. Rural management at XIMB is a decent option for students, which is even considered at par with the Indian Institute of Rural Management, Anand. There are several notions in the minds of people, which creates doubt about whether to choose Rural management or not. The points below give a clear picture of the course, addressing the benefits and the genuine outcomes of the degree. It consists of all the subjects taught in BM and HRM, along with some extra subjects dealing with rural management. You can go through the previous year's CAT cut-offs to decide which institute or stream is better. The cut-off for XIMB-RM is lower than HRM and BM, which makes you to remove it from your preference, which is a wrong notion. More than half of the entire class of rural management have excellent scores in CAT or XAT. Mostly, there are students with CAT cut-offs around 75-90 in RM.  The rural management course at XIMB is quite good and ranked close to IRMA. It is ranked second in the country after IIM Ahmedabad and 19th worldwide.  The majority of people believe that Rural Management students are hired only by development agencies and NGOs, which is another wrong notion. Several Consulting, IT companies, BFSI, and FMCG come to recruits RM students in placement. People even think that Rural Managers have to work in interior parts of India. But the fact is that most RMs work in tier-1 or tier-2 cities, and visit rural interiors as a part of their work for monitoring their company works. Engineering back-out from doing MBA at rural management, thinking that their work experience would be of no value for the degree. But, just like any other streams, work experience gets extra emphasis in rural management too. The placements in RM are of average quality at present but are at rapid growth. Having an average package is still satisfactory, which will lead to a handsome package within two years. There are students from RM having excellent salary packages, which are the result of their hard work and maximum course extraction. Students from IT companies have a good scope in RM as most IT or consulting companies working in rural regions have projects from government and micro-finance companies, and so are in great demand. These are some of the key highlights and clarifications to most wrong notions about Rural Management from XIMB, which is indeed a good option having ample opportunities and great scope in the future.Read more
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Ques. I've got two options, TAPMI PGDM and IRMA PRM. What should I choose?

● Top Answer By Alka Singh on 09 Mar 23

Ans. When deciding on an MBA program, it's important to consider your interests and career goals. If you have an inclination towards rural management, then IRMA would be an excellent choice for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for a general MBA degree and specific profiles post-MBA, then TAPMI may be the better option. If rural management is your area of interest, then IRMA should be at the top of your list. IRMA has a strong reputation for its rural management program and provides excellent opportunities for students interested in the field. On the other hand, if you're looking for a broader MBA degree and want to explore different profiles, then TAPMI may be a better fit. When it comes to post-MBA profiles, TAPMI provides a variety of specializations to choose from, including finance, marketing, human resources, and operations. This means that you can choose a specialization that aligns with your interests and career goals. Additionally, TAPMI has a strong reputation in the industry and attracts many top recruiters, which can enhance your job opportunities post-MBA. Ultimately, the decision between IRMA and TAPMI will depend on your individual interests and career aspirations. Make sure to research each program thoroughly and weigh the pros and cons of each before making a final decision.Read more
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Ques. Is rural management from XIMB - 3 years work experience with TCS worth it?

● Top Answer By Anjini Kumar on 20 Apr 21

Ans. Firstly, it is important to understand what management means to you. Yes, just like People going to Microsoft or Google post-Engineering were passionate about coding/computers vis-a-vis those who opted for say a TCS/Wipro. Therefore, if a Management education is an escape route from the monotonous coding life, do not go for this degree. Simply because after a few years of working, you might find yourself in a regretful situation. Now coming to XIMB, Bhubaneswar as a college, these are the key highlights. The colleges have an impeccable infrastructure. The faculty is great. Great campus culture Good placements However, check the following reasons why you should not go for the Rural Management course. The Rural Management course requires a lot of fieldwork and expedition which won’t suffice the basic ROI model. The course is shifted to the other campus which is situated in a suburban area. This is a huge downfall as you might be curtailed from important facilities and infrastructure. Placement may not be that great, having invested 13 lacs as the course fee itself. With mediocre placement records, this might not be a good return on your investment. With a 3 year experience in TCS and a continuous C band, the salary you have now will be more or less equal to what you might get after placements. Hence, it won’t make a huge difference. Undoubtedly, the scope for courses like Rural Management is limited, that’s why most people who acquire an RM degree go for corporate jobs at last. Categories Rural Management in XIMB Course Fee 13.80 lakh Highest CTC 13.2 LPA Average CTC 9 LPA Overall, if you are very much into the management sector, go for courses like MBA and other PGDM courses instead of Rural Management. Limited scope, extensive fieldwork, mediocre placements is not a good return when you pay such a high fee. Hence, choose wisely.Read more
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Ques. Has the course of Rural Management at XIMB deteriorated?

● Top Answer By Shweta Sri on 20 Apr 21

Ans. Xavier Institute of Rural Management which is also a part of XIMB Bhubaneswar offers MBA in rural management program. This program gives the student a MBA Plus orientation along with a regular MBA program. This program offers practical exposure to the rural management along with the classroom programs. There are flagship programs like gramotsavam which are conducted every year by the college. In this event the students get exposure to villages and this helps them to develop their communication and marketing skills while speaking with rural people. The performance of this program can be evaluated from the placement reports of 2018 and 2020. Particulars Placement report of 2018 Placement report of 2020 Highest salary offered 13.75 LPA. 13.20 LPA. Average salary 7.67 LPA. 7.78 LPA. Median annual compensation 7.40 LPA. 7.50 LPA. Average annual compensation of the top 20% of the batch 10.05 LPA. 10.85 LPA Average annual compensation of the top 50% of the batch 8.70 LPA. 9.33 LPA. Number of participating recruiters 33 35 It can be seen from the above comparison of placement reports that overall the performance in placement of 2020 has been better as compared to the placements of 2018. Although the highest salary has been little less as compared to 2018 but overall the performance was good. New recruiters were also added as well. Healthcare sectors in placements were also added. BFSI and financial inclusion sectors offered the highest salaries and showed a 41.44% rise in the total numbers of offers being made.Read more
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Ques. Which college is better for a rural management course, IRM Jaipur or the KIIT School of Rural Management?

● Top Answer By Aniket Choudhary on 15 Jul 21

Ans. One of my friends is an alumnus of KIIT School of Rural Management. So, I am going to share the details as per his experience. MBA (RM): The MBA (RM) program is divided into four semesters and field segments. The fee and placements information is given below. Fee INR 7.59 Lakhs Average Package INR 6.75 LPA Highest Package INR 8 LPA Placement Percentage 100% Field Segments: There are three Field Segments spread across these four semesters: Action Research Segment Case Study Research Segment Management Trainee Segment Here, you get to work every two months with different organizations on multiple ranges of projects. These segments give practical exposure to the actual challenging environment outside books and classrooms. After the program, students feel confident and have hands-on experience that many don’t possess. The organizations that visit on campus for field segments and final segments are Bank of Baroda, Myntra, Axis Bank, AP Moller – Maersk, Agribusiness Systems International, Ambuja Cement Foundation, L&T Finance, Lupin Ltd, PepsiCo, CABI, DuPont Pioneer, IndusInd Bank, Tata Chemicals, UNICEF, Edelweiss Financial Services, FCI, and more. The institute has a legacy of students known for their hard work and dedication in their respective organizations.Read more
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Ques. Is it worth investing 11 lacs in Rural Management from XIMB? Can the amount be recovered after 2-3 years of placement?

● Top Answer By Anindita Guha on 04 Aug 22

Ans. XIMB Rural Management is worth the investment of 11 lakhs. It is among the best MBA-RM programs in the country. The return on investment is sound. The recovery rate will depend on your course performance and placements. Generally, it's possible to recover the fees within 2-3 years of placements.  Over the last few years, XSRM has maintained a record 100 percent placement rate. The average CTC for Rural Management is around INR 8 LPA. The highest goes up to INR 17 LPA. Microfinance banks, Rural development sectors, Finance, and Marketing are the major sectors that take part in XIMB placement. Pradan, Ujjiwan, Rural Yellow, etc. are the major recruiters for XSRM. Read more
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Ques. Shall I join XIMB RM course rather than joining Infosys or Cognizant?

● Top Answer By Sanghita Sengupta on 12 Apr 23

Ans. XIMB is a highly reputed management institute in India, offering a variety of courses including the Rural Management (RM) program. If you are interested in pursuing a career in rural development, the RM program at XIMB could be a great choice for you. The RM program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to work in the field of rural development and prepares students for a range of roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. On the other hand, if you are considering joining Infosys or Cognizant, you would be entering the IT industry. While these companies are highly respected in the IT sector, it's important to consider whether a career in IT is the right fit for you. When making a decision between the XIMB RM course and a job at Infosys or Cognizant, you may want to consider the following: Your interests and career goals : It's important to consider your own interests and goals when making a decision about your career. If you are passionate about rural development and want to work in this field, the RM course at XIMB could be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you are interested in IT and want to pursue a career in this field, a job at Infosys or Cognizant may be a better option. Long-term prospects : Consider the long-term prospects of each option. The RM program at XIMB could open doors to a wide range of career opportunities in rural development, both in India and abroad. Similarly, a job at Infosys or Cognizant could provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement in the IT industry. Financial considerations : It's also important to consider the financial implications of each option. The RM program at XIMB will require an investment of time and money, whereas a job at Infosys or Cognizant will provide you with a steady income. Ultimately, the decision of whether to join the XIMB RM course or a job at Infosys or Cognizant depends on your individual interests, goals, and financial situation. It's important to weigh the pros and cons of each option and consider what will best help you achieve your long-term career aspirations.Read more
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Ques. How good is the rural management course from Xavier University Bhubaneswar and which is better, sustainable management or rural management?

● Top Answer By Sayak Mitra on 10 Dec 20

Ans. The courses, Rural Management and Sustainable Management both have their merits and demerits. Both are core subjects focusing on different aspects. Xavier School of Rural Management (XSRM) is at par with Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). Xavier School of Rural Management is currently ranked 20th for MBA by Outlook 2020, 10th by Outlook ICARE and 31st by NIRF 2020 ranking. XSRM comes under the top 20 colleges in the world to provide this course. The placement highlight of XSRM for 2020 is given below: Categories Xavier University Bhubaneswar Highest CTC 13.20 LPA Average CTC 7.78 LPA Lowest CTC 7.50 LPA Job Roles Marketing Manager, Semi-Marketing Jobs, Finance, Marketing, Consultancy, development sector, etc. This rural sector is said to flourish in the coming years. Keeping the current world situation in mind, many countries including India will shift towards the rural sector. Therefore, it a good option to choose XSRM because of the current demand of the subject, its ranking, placement and job opportunities In conclusion, one should ace the entrance exam conducted to secure a career in Rural Management.Read more
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Ques. What course at XIMB is better, rural management or sustainable management?

● Top Answer By Shreyan Ghose on 16 Apr 21

Ans. RM and SM are different schools now and are no longer considered XIMB. XSRM and XSoS are now Xavier School of Rural Management and Xavier School of Sustainable Management respectively.  The RM and SM programs come under Xavier University, Bhuvaneshwar. This means that post the convocation, your degree would read “XUB” and not “XIMB”. But you would be happy to know that the faculty is the same and placements are deserving.  You would be exposed to diverse sectors regardless of what course you are pursuing.  If RM and SM are the only specializations for you, it’s then up to you to choose whatever future you would like. Agricultural finance and GIS tagging are some sectors that are in trend these days in the line of either specialization.  Both the courses are equally good and have their own importance. So, it’s all your decision, which field you want to pursue your career in.Read more
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