Rural management involves organizing activities in rural areas to improve the living standard. It includes planning, execution and implementation of projects that help address the common challenges in rural areas. Examples of the same include sustainable development, agricultural development, and economic development.
Rural management courses are offered at different course levels, including bachelor's, master's, PhD and online certifications. BA in Rural Development, MBA in Rural Management and PhD Rural Management are top Rural Management courses. Online platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and edX and even colleges like IGNOU offer certificate courses in Rural Management.
After completing a Rural Management course, students can explore diverse career opportunities including rural development officer, rural manager, project manager in NGOs, social welfare officer and more. They can expect their salary between INR 3 – 8 LPA.
Rural Management Course Highlights
| Top Courses | BA Rural Development, MBA Rural Management, PhD Rural Management |
| Eligibility | 50% in 10+2 |
| Average Fees | INR 50,000 – 4,00,000 |
| Top Job Prospects | Rural Development Officer, Rural Manager, Project Manager in NGOs, Social Welfare Officer |
| Average Salary | INR 3 – 8 LPA |
Certificate Rural Management Courses
Certificate courses in rural management cover the basics of rural management. Students can pursue certificate courses in rural management online or from universities.
| Course Name | Provider | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding Agribusiness, Value Chains, and Consumers in Global Food Systems | edX | INR 14,603 |
| Sustainable Agribusiness | edX | INR 22,000 |
| Rural Management | IGNOU | INR 1,500 |
| Certificate in Rural Management | Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur Kazian School of Management | INR 3,000 |
Diploma in Rural Management
Students can do a diploma course or a post graduate diploma course in rural management. The eligibility criteria is different for both of the courses, students can apply to colleges offering diploma in rural management after 10+2. A bachelor’s degree in rural management or related field is required in order to apply in colleges offering post graduate diploma in rural management.
Diploma in Rural Management Course Details
Some of the popular diploma courses which can be pursued in the field of Rural Management are given below:
| Diploma Name | College Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Rural Management | Odisha State Open University, North East Frontier Technical University | INR 7,000 |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management | Goodwill College, IILMBS, Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration | INR 50,000 |
Diploma in Rural Management Admission Process
Most of the colleges consider merit in 10+2 to offer a diploma in rural management course admission. Some colleges might conduct a written test to assess general knowledge about the field.
Top Diploma in Rural Management Colleges
| College Name | Admission Process |
|---|---|
| IICT Business School, Lucknow | Merit-based |
| Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur | Merit-based |
| North East Frontier Technical University, Arunachal Pradesh | Merit-based |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Merit-based |
BA in Rural Development
BA in rural development is a 3 year undergraduate degree in rural management field. The details of the same are mentioned below.
BA Rural Development Course Details
| Course Name | Colleges Offerings | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BA Rural Development | Institute of Rural Management (IRM), Xavier Institute of Management | INR 10,000 - 2,00,000 |
BA Rural Development Admission Process
Most of the colleges consider merit in 10+2 to offer admission to colleges offering BA rural development courses. Colleges like Delhi University, BHU Varanasi, and JNU conduct entrance exams for admission.
Top BA Rural Development Colleges
| College | Admission Process | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Rural Management, Gujarat | Entrance-based | INR 30,000 |
| Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar | Merit-based | INR 20,000 |
| St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai | Merit-based | INR 20,000 |
| Kalinga School of Rural Management, Bhubaneswar | Merit-based | INR 5,000 |
| Madras Christian College, Chennai | Merit-based | INR 60,000 |
Masters in Rural Management
MA in rural development and MBA in rural management are 2-year postgraduate degrees in the rural management field. The details of the same are mentioned below.
Top Postgraduate Rural Management Courses
| Course Name | College Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Rural Development | Tata Institute of Social Sciences, University of Mysore, Acharya Nagarjuna University | INR 30,000 - 2,00,000 |
| MBA in Rural Management | IIHMR Jaipur, KIIT School of Rural Management, Institute of Management and Research | INR 50,000 - 4,00,000 |
MBA Rural Management Admission Process
For an MBA in rural management, students need to score the minimum cut-off score in CAT. The cut-off is specified by the MBA rural management colleges at the time of admission. MA rural development admission is based on merit in graduation.
Top MBA Rural Management Colleges
| College | Admission Process | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Delhi | Merit-based | INR 10,480 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Merit-based | INR 31,000 |
| Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad | Merit-based | INR 52,000 |
| Savitribai Phule Pune University | Merit-based | INR 66,000 |
| Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore | Merit-based | INR 4,00,000 |
PhD in Rural Management
PhD Rural Management courses are mainly chosen by those who want to enter into the research field. In this course, you can learn about the skills and innovative techniques used for the management of rural areas.
- The minimum duration of this course is around 3 years though it can be extended depending on the colleges.
- After PhD students can also get the option to become Teachers and professors in Universities.
- The average salary after PhD in rural management is around INR 4 – 8 LPA.
PhD Rural Management Course Details
| Course Name | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| PhD in Rural Management | Xavier School of Rural Management, Centre for Studies in Rural Management, Gujarat Vidyapith | INR 20,000 - 2,00,000 |
PhD Rural Management Admission Process
Admissions to Doctorate courses in India are mainly done through some entrance tests.
- There are different types of exams conducted to get research fellowships.
- Some of these include UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC-NET, etc.
- Students need to have 55% marks in their master's for admission to PhD in rural management.
Top PhD Rural Management Colleges
| College/ University Name | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| IGNOU, New Delhi | INR 16,800 |
| Xavier School of Rural Management, Bhubaneswar | NA |
| Centre for Studies in Rural Management, Gujarat Vidyapith, Gandhinagar | INR 25,500 |
| IIT Delhi | INR 42,900 |
Career Options After Rural Management Course
After completing a rural management course, candidates have diverse career opportunities that align with their skills and field. The various career options after a rural management course include rural development officer, rural manager, project manager in NGOs, social welfare officer and more.
Rural Development Officer
A rural development officer is responsible for supervising the development and planning of activities that revolve around rural development. They also supervise the rural development programs handled by the local Panchayat to ensure they are executed as per the standards.
Starting Salary: INR 4 LPA
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager is responsible for improving the association's market position and accomplishing monetary development. They set out the drawn-out authoritative key objectives, recognize business openings, and fabricate key client connections. Likewise, they arrange and close business bargains, and keep up broad information on current economic situations.
Starting Salary: INR 6 LPA
Research Officer
Research Officers direct examination adventures from the beginning phases to the last. They coordinate with partners and guarantee that all endeavours and tasks will be designed. They regulate or help amass data, with the job contrasting by the idea of the business. Most examination officials and chiefs report their discoveries to bosses or warning gatherings.
Starting Salary: INR 4 LPA
Sales Officer
Sales Officers offer retail things, products and administrations to customers. They work for inside deals, which consistently remember cold pitching for new clients for an office setting, while on the field, they communicate straightforwardly with new or existing clients.
Starting Salary: INR 3 LPA
Rural Minister
Accountable for exercises concerning the everyday functions of rural areas. Guaranteeing all the divisions are completing their work proficiently.
Starting Salary: INR 3.5 LPA
Rural Managers
A rural manager is responsible for planning and implementing projects related to sustainable development, agriculture, and healthcare in rural areas. They work with NGOs, government agencies and local panchayat to enhance the living standard in rural areas by implementing development programs, supporting local businesses, and more.
Starting Salary: INR 3 – 4 LPA
Rural Management Courses: FAQs
Ques: What is rural management?
Ans: Rural management involves organizing activities in rural areas to improve the living standard. It includes planning, execution and implementation of projects that help address the common challenges in rural areas. Examples of the same include sustainable development, agricultural development, and economic development.
Ques: What is the scope of rural management?
Ans: Candidates after completing a degree in rural management can engage in the planning and execution of projects to improve the overall living conditions in rural areas. The professionals focus on the agriculture sector, infrastructure, healthcare, education and sustainable development.
Ques: What are the top courses in rural management?
Ans: MBA and PGDM in rural management are the top rural management courses in India.
Ques: What are the top MBA rural management colleges in India?
Ans: IRMA Anand, KIIT School of Rural Management, XISS Ranchi, and XIMB Bhubaneswar are the top MBA rural management colleges in India.







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