Rural Development Courses in India: Types, Online, Subjects, Jobs, Skills, Distance, Admission 2026

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Ishika Ray

Updated 3+ months ago

Rural Development courses focus on the aspect of various socio-economic problems that affect rural economy, issues with agriculture, improvement in income of rural households.

A large number of courses offered by universities, research institutions in the discipline of rural development. These courses play an important role in making professionals who assist rural people in their process of economic growth and development, improvement of health factor, to bring progress and prosperity across rural areas.

Degrees offered in this field are Diploma, PG diploma, Undergraduate, Post graduate, MPhil, Phd in Rural Development.

Certificate programs
  • Some universities provide certificate classroom courses, distance learning courses and online as well.
  • Those students having interest in Rural Development courses but due to lack of time will not able to pursue degree courses can pursue certification courses.
  • Eligibility criteria to pursue these programs vary from one institute to another.
Diploma and PG Diploma Courses
  • Diploma and PG Diploma courses are in high demand just because they are short term courses and learn skills as well.
  • Students wanting early employment in Rural Development sectors can pursue these courses.
Bachelor Rural Development Courses
  • Classroom oriented full time degree course offered by many institutes and colleges.
  • Duration for Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development is 3 years.
Master Rural Development Courses
  • Students who want to pursue higher studies in Rural Development can pursue masters.
  • Master degree offered by many institutes on the basis of entrance as well as merit also.
Doctorate Rural Development Courses
  • Students who want to make their career in the field of research in rural development can pursue a doctorate degree in rural development.
  • Duration of these courses ranges from a few hours to 3-5 years.
  • Certificate in rural development  courses completed within a few hours (online) and extend upto one year (offline).
  • Many online websites such as Coursera provide certificates in zero fees while some of them such as Udemy,edX take few charges for providing certificates in these courses.
  • After completing their masters students get jobs like Agronomist,Researcher, Gram Sevak etc.
  • The average salaries after completing Disaster management courses ranges from 2-10 lakh per annum.
  • Some of the top skills demanded by various job profiles of rural development courses are- Creative thinking, Problem solving skills etc.

Rural Development Courses: Highlights

Rural Development courses are offered in different types of programs like UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate and Doctorate courses. Some of the important highlights of rural development courses like popular courses, duration of the course, eligibility, average fees, job prospects and average salary are mentioned in the following table.

Popular courses
  • Certificate programs: Certificate in Rural Development basically for job seekers who have interest in this field as well as want to apply for a job in these sectors.
  • Diploma and PG Diploma: These courses are short term courses which mainly focus on building skills of students as well as provide exposures to increase their practical knowledge.
  • UG: BA in Rural Development
  • PG: MA in Rural Development.
  • Doctorate: PhD or MPhil in Rural Development.
Duration
  • Certificate:It varies from institute to institute generally it ranges from 6 months to 2 years.
  • Diploma and PG Diploma: 1 year
  • UG: 3 year degree course 
  • PG: 2 year degree course
  • Doctorate: MPhil - 2 years, PhD- 3 to 5 years
Eligibility Criteria:
  • Certificate:10+2 passed or equivalent from a recognized board. 
  • Diploma and PG Diploma:10+2 passed or equivalent from a recognized board
  • UG:10+2 from a recognized board.
  • PG:Bachelor degree in any stream from a recognised university.
  • Doctorate: Post graduation from a recognized university.
Average Fees
  • Certificate:INR 2000 to 10,000
  • Diploma and PG Diploma:INR 13,280 to 29,380
  • UG:INR 10,000 to 50,000
  • PG:INR 2,850 to 30,200
  • Doctorate:INR 15,000 to 3,10,000
Online and Distance learning Programs
  • Some institutes as IGNOU provide distance learning as well as correspondence certificate courses.
  • Some other universities offer distance learning degree courses as well.
Top Job Profile Agronomist, Area executive, Professor, Gram Sevak, Rural Manager, Social Activist etc.

Certificate Rural Development Courses

Certificate programs in Rural Development build skills in students for enhancing their knowledge so that they develop their knowledge for helping and serving rural people.

Many institutes offering this course have their own eligibility criteria required for the selection of candidates.

  • Some of the online enrollment in these courses provide unlimited time access.
  • Since certification courses are short term courses, it is usually done by some students who have just passed 12 and have basic knowledge of rural development.
  • A single student can enroll in more than one certification courses that help in developing more skills which eventually helped him to increase his pay packages.
  • Starting salary of the students who start their jobs after certification courses ranges from INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 per annum.

Online Rural Development Course Certificates

Given below are some of the best Rural Development Courses Certificates for the interested candidates:

Courses Provider Duration Fees
Social Innovation in Rural areas Futurelearn 3 weeks 44 USD
First Aid for remote and rural locations Udemy 2 hours INR 360
Certificate in Rural Development Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur, odisha 6 months - 2 years INR 2,000
Rural Development Course Eval Partners 5 days 1000 USD

Offline Rural Development Course Certificates

Given below are some of the best Rural Development Courses Certificates for the interested candidates:

Certificate College Offering Average Fees
Certificate in Rural Development IGNOU, New Delhi INR 1,500
Certificate in ICT in Rural Social Health Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences INR 4,000 to 6,000
How are Admissions in Certificate Programs of Rural Development Courses Done?

How are Admissions in Certificate Programs of Rural Development Courses Done?

Admission in the Rural Development courses are not done in a proper organised manner like degree courses. There are no particular entrance exams conducted for admission in the courses.

  • Enrolment in online certificate courses is done by applying directly on websites.
  • In offline institutes admission can be done on the basis of Board marks or previous experiences in this field.
  • some of the websites provide free services but some websites also provide paid courses.
  • For joining paid courses You have to fill the application form online candidates have to visit the website and fill all the required details correctly after completing details you have to pay fees if the website charges some fees for the courses.
  • Some institutes take admission on the basis of 10th or 12th marks.

Colleges for Rural Development Course Certificates

Some of the colleges from where you can take up Rural Development Certificate courses are:

Collegedunia Rating College/ University Name Admission Process Average Annual Fees
7.1 IGNOU, New Delhi Merit-Based INR 42,200
7.7 KC Das Commerce College, Guwahati Merit-Based INR 28,000
8.2 PIMS, Maharashtra Merit-Based INR 82,600
PG Diploma Rural Development Courses

PG Diploma Rural Development Courses

Let us have a look at some of the most popular PG Diploma Rural Development courses:

  • Just like Certificate programs, PG Diploma courses in Rural Development are in details and also give you the flexibility to know much more lessons in Rural Development.
  • PG Diploma courses are not like bachelor or master degrees.Duration of these courses are short in comparison to degrees which save both time and money.
  • Students who want to get a little bit deep knowledge in rural development as compared to certificate courses should join these PG diploma courses via online or offline mode.
  • Students who want to pursue a more career oriented course in rural development should go for  PG Diploma courses.
  • For PG diploma courses minimum qualification required is  graduation from a relevant stream with an aggregate of 50% marks required.
  • Average fees of these PG  diploma courses vary from one institute to another.
  • In some institutes these courses are divided into basic level and advanced level courses.
  • The average salary after PG diploma courses in India is INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000 per annum.

Top PG Diploma Rural Development Courses

Let us have a look at some of the most popular PG Diploma Rural Development courses:

PG Diploma name College offering Average Fees Duration
Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Development IGNOU, New Delhi INR 2,000 - 10,000 1-4 year

See more:

How are the Admission in Diploma and PG Diploma Rural Management Courses Done?

The admission process is mostly similar for all the colleges and educational institutions. You need to fill the application form and apply for the course.

  • For taking admission in PG diploma in Rural Management courses Candidates can directly apply to the institutes.
  • Some institutes provide admission on the basis of entrance exam conducted at institute level or state level for providing admission.
  • Many of the institutes simply take admission on the basis of merit. (Class 12th or equivalent marks)
  • Students can take admission directly by visiting the campus of the institute in which they want to take admission.

Colleges for PG Diploma Rural Development Courses

Some of the PG Diploma Rural Development Colleges of India are as follows:

NIRF Ranking College/ University Name Admission Process Average Annual Fees
65 Mumbai University, Mumbai Merit-Based INR 64,500
101 Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu Merit-Based INR 24,100
84 Chandigarh University, Chandigarh Merit-Based INR 38,900
27 University of Mysore, Karnataka Merit-Based INR 47,400
Bachelor Rural Development Courses

Bachelor Rural Development Courses

  • Number of students who want to make a great career in Rural Development and require proper campus education should go for bachelor degree in rural development courses..
  • This is a 3-year long term course offered by many colleges which takes admission on the basis of entrance exams at national as well as institutional level.
  • Undergraduate degree is offered at a range of public and private colleges in india.
  • The average fees required for pursuing bachelor degree in rural development courses are INR 10,000 to 50,000 per annum.

Top Undergraduate Rural Development Courses

The table below shows some of the best Bachelor Rural Development courses for interested students:

Name of the Course Colleges Offering Admission Process Average Fees
BA Rural Development IRM, Gujarat, Xavier Institute of Management etc. Merit/ Entrance-Based INR 10,000 to 50,000

Also check top BA Rural Development Colleges here.

How is Admission in Bachelor Rural Development Courses Done?

  • Some institutes  provide direct admission to candidates on the basis of the aggregate score at the 10+2 level.
  • Admission process may vary from college to college. A few institutes conduct their own entrance tests for offering admission.
  • Admission on the basis of marks scored in qualifying examination.
  • A personal interview also conducted by some institutes or colleges.

Colleges for Bachelor Rural Development Courses

Some of the best colleges for undergraduate courses in Rural Development are listed below:

Collegedunia Ranking College/ University Name Admission Process Average Annual Fees
7.3 University of Lucknow, Lucknow Entrance-Based INR 7,554
8.1 MGU, Ri-Bhoi Merit-Based INR 24,000
Master Rural Development Courses

Master Rural Development Courses

  • MA in Rural Development is a 2-year postgraduate degree course.
  • Those students who are looking to enter the research field should opt for a master in Rural Development  courses as they are compulsory to pursue a PhD course.
  • MA Rural Development program focuses on the aspects such as development of fisheries, horticulture,rural development theories, policies and planning for rural development.
  • The average package at the starting after completing this course is around INR 2,40,000 to 6,00,000.
  • MA Rural Development postgraduates can get jobs in many private and government organizations, NGOs, Colleges/institutes etc.

Top Master Rural Development Courses

The table below shows some of the most sought-after colleges for studying Masters Rural Development courses:

Name of the Course Admission Process Average Fees (per annum)
MA Rural Development Entrance-Based INR 2,850 to 30,200

How are admissions in masters in rural development courses done?

  • Merit based admission also offered by some centers and universities.
  • Candidates have to qualify entrance exams conducted by various institutes and colleges to take admission in this course.
  • Some of the entrance exams conducted by various institute for providing admission are-
  • JNUEE-(JNU) entrance exam for both graduate and postgraduate courses in JNU.
  • TISS-NET- conducted by tata institute of social sciences for admission in postgraduate courses.

Colleges for Master Rural Development Courses

The table below shows some of the most sought-after colleges for studying Masters Rural Development courses:

NIRF Ranking College/ University Admission Process Average Annual Fees
7 BHU, Varanasi Entrance-Based INR 30,000
27 UOM, Karnataka Merit-Based INR 17,600
57 TISS, Mumbai Entrance-Based INR 72,500
68 SVU, Tirupati Merit-Based INR 8,290

Doctorate Rural Development Courses

  • In Doctorate level course students can learn about the skills and innovative techniques used for the development of rural areas. 
  • Students interested in the research field in rural development should pursue Doctorate level degrees.
  • The average tuition fee of the top PhD Rural Development colleges in India ranges from INR 15,000 to 3,00,000.
  • The average annual salary after completing PhD ranges from INR 2,00,000 to 7,00,000 per annum depending on their skills in the field.

Top PhD Rural Development Courses

Most popular course offered in the PhD program is mentioned in the following table with the colleges offering the course, average fees, duration of the course and the domain of the course.

Course Name Top Colleges Duration Average Fees Domain
PhD in Rural Development AAC, Madurai, KUK, Kurukshetra, LPU, Jalandhar 3 – 6 years (approx.) INR 15,000 to 3,10,000 Agriculture

How are Admissions in Doctorate Rural Development Courses Done?

  • Most of the PhD Rural Development colleges allow admission to this course based on merit of masters.
  • A few institutes conduct interviews and select students on the basis of presentation.
  • Students can fill application forms and apply directly to the institute for admission.
  • The application can be done through both online and offline mode
  • Many colleges conduct entrance exams at institute level or state level on the basis of which they provide admission to the students.

Colleges for Doctorate Rural Development Courses

Here we are with some of the best institutes for a PhD in Rural Development course:

NIRF Ranking College/ University Name Admission Process Average Fees
3 IIT, Delhi Entrance-Based INR 42,900
95 Arul Anandar College, Madurai Entrance-Based INR 28,850
99 LPU, Jalandhar Entrance-Based INR 95,200
151 KUK, Kurukshetra Entrance-Based INR 37,850
What are the Top Job Options After Rural Development Courses?

What are the Top Job Options After Rural Development Courses?

India is the country having numerous rural areas as villages, Towns which will open plenty of career paths in the field of rural development.You can work on a contractual basis in developmental schemes. There are various and great future scope in India as well as abroad in this field. If you will working in the government sector then your earning will depend on the pay scale decided by the goverment.Jobs and placements in different sector government as well as private are available to those who have completed academic programs successfully-

District Development Officer

These officers work in their allotted district and manage the programs and activity of various rural development tasks.

They also oversee the work of different employees and communicate with different officers for making new development in rural areas.

Average Salary: INR 5,32,000 to 6,50,000

Skills Required

  • Good communication skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Creative thinking skills.

Area Executive

They mainly train and guide people of an area to get involved in various rural development programs. They inspire rural people to get participated in  various camps and activities which are mainly organized for development of rural areas.

Average Salary: INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000

Skills Required

  • Communication skills 
  • Innovative thinking skills
  • Problem solving skills

What Skills are Required in Rural Development Courses?

Candidates looking for a job after their completion of a rural development course are expected to have additional skills to their name. Some of the skills that are expected after the completion of a degree is discussed below. Courses which help to develop skills of a candidate, syllabus and possible jobs offered to the candidates are also mentioned.

Communication Skills Course

  • These are the most demanding skills in rural development courses because during the survey and interacting with rural people communication skills  are required for helping and cooperating  them in various areas.
  • These are the most important skills required for rural development courses which help to learn how to interact with people, how to deal with them.
  • Various websites provide courses for building these skills such as coursera, udemy etc.

Top Communication Skills Courses

Some of the best courses in Communication Skills have been listed below:

Course Provider Duration Fees Rating
Improving communication skills Coursera Approx 10 hours free 4.7
Communication Fundamentals: How to communicate better Udemy 1-2 hours INR 455 4.3

Communication Skills Course Syllabus

The topics covered in the Communication Skills course syllabus are mentioned below.

Communication skills: Metaphors, Analogies and telling stories Using rhythm in presentations,conversations
Dealing People Smart communication

Communication Skills Course Job Profiles

Social Worker

District Development Officer

Communicator

Average Salary: INR 3,00,000 to 8,00,000

Top Leadership Skills Courses

Top Leadership Skills Courses

Some of the best courses in Leadership Skills have been listed below:

Various job profiles in Rural Development play an important role as a leader at the time implantation of Various projects in rural development sectors. A few websites which provide these skills are-

Courses Provider Duration Rating Fees
1-The science of leadership Udemy 3 hours 4.5 INR 360
2-Building your leadership skills Coursera 15 hours 4.6 Free
3-Leadership : practical leadership skills Udemy 2-3 hours 4.6 INR 360

Leadership Skills Course Syllabus

The topics covered in the Leadership Skills course syllabus are mentioned below.

Leadership Styles Our Previous Experiences
Motivation Genetic Programming
Introspection to Grow you Self Awareness and Sensibility Inspirational Leadership Journey

Leadership Skills Course Job Profiles

Rural Development Officer

Leader

Social Activist

Average Salary: INR 3,00,000 to 5,00,000

Rural Development Courses: FAQs

Rural Development Courses: FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue degree courses in Rural Development?

Ans. Yes, you can do bachelors, masters as well as doctoral degrees such as BA, MA or PhD in rural development . 

Ques. Can I get an online certificate in a Rural Development course?

Ans. There are some websites such as Udemy, Coursera who provide certificates in some rural development courses.

Ques. What are the minimum qualifications required for getting a certificate in rural development?

Ans. There is no specific criteria required for an online course. For an offline course you have to pass 12th from a recognized board.

Ques. What are the high salaried job profiles in rural development courses?

Ans. There are various job profiles such as- Agronomist, Geographer, Social activist,Teacher, Social worker etc.

Ques. Are there any entrance exams conducted for getting admission in rural development colleges/institutes?

Ans. Yes, There are some institutes which conduct entrance exams at institutional level for providing admission in these courses.

Ques. What is the average fee required for getting a degree in rural development?

Ans.The average annual fees ranges from INR 10,000 to 1,00,000 per annum.

Ques. What are the skills required for getting a decent job in rural development?

Ans. Some of the basic skills required are- Leadership skills, Creative thinking skill, Decision making skill etc.

Ques. Can I get more than one certification online?

Ans. Yes, you can have a facility of getting more than one certificate. It will enhance your pay packages and increase your knowledge as well.

Ques. What are average salaries of various job profiles in Rural Development?

Ans. There are various job profiles who have high salary packages and it increases with increasing experiences. It ranges from INR 2,00,000 to 8,00,000 per annum.

Ques. Can I get admission in Rural Development courses on the basis of merit of Class 12th?

Ans. Yes, there are some institutes which provide admission on the basis of Class 12th marks.

Ques. What are the institutes providing offline certificates in rural development?

Ans. There are some institutes such as IGNOU, TISS, Odisha State Open University that provide certification in rural development.

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