MBA in Rural Management: Course Fees, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope

Rural Management can be defined as a study of management and utilisation of resources available in rural areas and the agriculture sector. The course is offered as a specialisation in MBA/PGD programmes. The study and application of rural management are both concerned with the efficient administration and growth of rural communities and places.

It includes a broad range of initiatives aiming at enhancing rural areas' social, economic, and environmental situations. Enhancing rural people's standard of life while guaranteeing the sustainable use of natural resources is the main objective of rural management.

Also Read: MBA Specialisations

Hi,

The scope of Rural Management is very wide. One can pursue a career in various sectors such as agriculture, farming, harvesting, production, manufacturing, dairy, banking, cooperatives, NGO, infrastructure, technology, human resource, etc.

Professionals with experience in rural management can participate in a range of initiatives targeted at enhancing the socioeconomic standing of rural communities. Rural development is a major focus of many NGOs and development organisations. Professionals with expertise in rural management might find employment in fields including sustainable resource management, women's empowerment, healthcare access, and poverty alleviation.

Read More: Compare Institutes of Rural Management

Rural Management is a branch focused on the social aspect of the management. It provides an interface between corporate and social development. Pedagogy and Course are almost similar to the Business management, also the profiles offered would be the same, but with focus on rural market and social development.

MBA in rural Management refers to the study of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling rural areas, cooperatives, agri-business, and allied fields. MBA Rural Management studies advanced lessons in the application of management principles to the rural sector, planning, organisation, and control of cooperatives and related organizations in the field of agriculture. I will advice you to do MBA in Finance, Marketing and HR are very lucrative fields of specialisation. All these branches of MBA offer opportunities in various sectors and with exciting job opportunities. Although, choosing which field should you specialise in totally depends on your interests. Now I am sharing the list of top private Universities name which offers engineering course :- Geeta University, Panipat SRM University VIT Manipal University Chitkara University Chandigarh University Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Pune National Institute of Management - [Nim], Mumbai Lingaya's University, Faridabad.

Pursuing an MBA in Rural Management advances a student's career, allowing them to pursue greater employment prospects in the agricultural and allied industries. A PGDM in Rural Management focuses on offering knowledge and case studies that help in the management of programmes in the rural sector. In the context of the rural industry, the training covers accounting, financial management, leadership abilities, and marketing knowledge. You can work in banks such as NABARD and Grameen Bank after completing your courses. You could also work as a rural development officer, a research officer, or a sales development manager, among other positions if you take up courses in rural management. The Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) is the best college for you if you want to pursue rural management programme. The institute offers programmes such as Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Fellow programme in Management, Management Development, and others. Read more all about the IRMA at : https://www.shiksha.com/college/institute-of-rural-management-anand-28620.

Students who fulfill the below points can study MBA in Rural Management: 

• Students who have completed their graduation with minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate and cleared MBA entrance exams can apply for the course. For reserved category students, 45 per cent score in graduation is required.
• Graduates with training in horticulture, agriculture, agronomy or related subjects frequently have a strong foundation in the rural economy. Hence, they can opt for this course.
• Those with management, business administration or comparable experience can also specialise in rural management to put their business talents to use in the particular setting of rural areas. 

No, graduating with a degree in agriculture is not a requirement to pursue an MBA in rural management. Although having a background in agriculture might give you a solid foundation and useful insights into rural situations, there are other ways to get into a rural management MBA programme. Many MBA programmes in rural management are developed to accommodate individuals with a variety of educational backgrounds who are interested in managing and developing rural areas.

The general eligibility criteria for admission to distance MBA in Rural Management colleges in India is to have bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university.

The admission procedure for MBA in Rural Management is the same as a regular MBA, i.e. entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT ATMA, etc., personal interview, and group discussion. Students can check the links below and prepare for the prominent entrance exam accordingly:

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Q&A for CAT
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Questions for CAT
• Quantitative Aptitude Questions and Answers for CAT

Students who pursue PGDM in Rural Management are taught how to apply management ideas to the rural sector. Rural managers design, organize, and direct development programmes to promote the sustainable, environmentally friendly, and equitable socio-economic development of rural areas, cooperatives, agribusiness, and related disciplines. Scores of entrance exams such as the CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, SNAP, ATMA, and others are required to admit students to Main Rural Management.

To be considered for admission, you must have a minimum of a 50 percent aggregate in your undergraduate degree from a recognised board. The Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) offers courses that focus on management problems and socio-economic realities of under-served communities. The experienced faculty members of IRMA build up thinkers and social workers of tomorrow for a better world. The institute uses CAT/XAT results to select candidates, followed by a Written Ability Test (What) and a Personal Interview (PI). Read more about IRMA, their courses and placement at : https://www.shiksha.com/college/institute-of-rural-management-anand-28620

For Rural Management courses available are BA/BSC/BBA, MBA/PGDM and Ph.D. Candidates can choose to pursue a Rural Management course as per their qualifications and career interest.

I hope this is helpful for you!

Yes, As MBA in Rural Management is a specaialized MBA programme you need to appear for national-level MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After the exam, you'll go through GD-PI rounds and some colleges may test your interest in rural development through essays or group tasks.

Here is a special Pro tip for you: Start preparing early for GK and current rural issues as it really helps in interviews.

The average fee of an MBA in Rural Management course is INR 5 lakh. The fees range between INR 1 Lacs (government colleges) to INR 20 Lacs (private institutions). Students can choose the college of their choice as per their suitability, exams accepted, and specialisation offered. The course is also offered in various degrees and the fee for each level varies accordingly.

Yes, a number of Indian0 Institutes of Management (IIMs) provide MBA programmes with a Rural Management or similar field specialization. These programmes are meant to equip students for leadership positions in community-based, agricultural, and rural development efforts. 

Some of the IIMs offered MBA Rural Management are Indian08 Ahmedabad, Indian00 Lucknow, IIM Khozikode, IIM Indore are some if the IIMs offering this MBA specialisation.

The eligibility criteria for MBA course at KIIT School of Rural Management is that candidate should have graduated in any discipline recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) with a minimum of 15 years (10+2+3) of education and minimum 50% aggregate (or equivalent CGPA). The percentage of aggregate marks is to be calculated taking all subjects into consideration including optional subjects. 

There are several universities in India that offer MBA programs in Rural Management, and the choice of the best university would depend on various factors, such as reputation, academic quality, course structure, faculty, industry interface, placement opportunities, and more. Here are some of the top universities for MBA in Rural Management in India:

• Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)
• Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar (XIMB)
• KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM)
• Xavier School of Rural Management (XSRM)
• Institute of Management Technology Hyderabad (IMT Hyderabad)
• National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)

MA Rural Development program takes two years to complete. The total fee for this MARD is Rs. 13,600/-

1. Amity University, Noida: Approximately INR 1.06 lakhs per year.

2. Annamalai University, Chidambaram: Around INR 5,885 per year.

3. Central University of South Bihar, Patna: About INR 14,218 per year.

4. University of Kota, Kota: Roughly INR 6,000 per year.

5. Azim Premji University, Bangalore: Approximately INR 22,500 per year.

Rural management specialisation is becoming popular as it allows you the possibility to improve and raise the social strata who have not yet seen the benefits of progress.The MBA in Rural Management programme is a two-year master's degree programme, but it can also be pursued in distance mode. Through the expert management of the villagers' institutions and organisations, rural managers work to advance the equitable, environmentally responsible, and sustainable socio-economic development of the villagers.

Rural management is the study of planning, organising, directing, and controlling of rural area, co-operatives, agribusiness and allied fields. It merges the knowledge of management studies and applying it in the rural context.

Most of the courses are designed in such a way that the concepts taught in the class is applied in the real life through training in the rural areas through case-studies and interaction with the rural people The MBA (Rural Management) programme is unique in the sense that in addition to traditional management courses such as Project Management, Accounting, Quantitative Techniques, Managerial Analysis and Communication, Finance, Marketing Management, many specialised courses focusing on management of rural sector are offered. Agribusiness Management, Rural Production and Livelihoods, Rural Finance and Commercial Banking, Natural Resources Management and Climate Change, Rural Marketing, CSR Management, Micro Finance, ICTs for Development, Innovation in Rural Development and Enterprises, Policy and Programme Interventions in Rural Development are some of the courses especially focusing on the rural sector.

Anyone who completes MBA (rural management) has the advantage of having career opportunities in any general management area. MBA in rural development: syllabus and course description- A year-wise breakup of the courses syllabus is tabulated below. Semester II: Essentials of Management Financial Management Quantitative Methods in Business Research Methodology Human Resource Management-Commerce Managerial Economics Indian Financial System Computer Applications & MIS Management of NGOs & Action Research Rural Society and Institutions Rural Development: Concepts, Models and Programmes Management of Social Empowerment Management of Sustainable Agriculture Financial & Managerial Accounting Rural Markets and Marketing Management Semester III and Semester IV: Business Laws Organizational Effectiveness & Change Environment and Natural Resource Management Strategies for Sustainable Rural Development Energy Requirement in Agriculture & its Management Industry and Agri-Business Management of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Aquaculture Rural Infrastructure Watershed Management High Tech Horticulture Global Business Environment & Rural Development Precisions Farming

Yes and it's actually one of the most beautiful and eye-opening parts of Rural Management course. Most rural management programs have:

• Village Fieldwork Segments (VFS)
• Development Practicums or Internships
• Rural Immersion Programs

You'll stay in rural areas for weeks or even for months and conduct surveys, work with local communities or help implement real development projects.

It's not just an adventure it's a life-changing experience that teaches empathy, resilience, problem-solving and leadership.

India is a nation of farmers and villages, with more than 60% of the population living in rural areas. The study of rural development and management is particularly demanding in order to manage the growth of rural areas. The government appoints qualified rural managers to help the people grow, improve, and expand.

Rural management is a specialty that enables aspiring professionals to manage and implement ideas that have a chance of success. Studying and researching rural development and management is becoming one of the most popular fields.

 After completing MBA in Rural Management, graduates can get recruited in various roles, including Rural Development Officer, Sales/Business Development Manager, Purchase/Vendor Development Manager, Business Development Executive, and Sales/Business Development Manager. The salary for these roles range from INR 4 Lacs to 10 lakh at the start. They can enhance their pay scale and climb career growth with experience.

Both the courses are related to your field but MBA in Agri-business is more related to your field. Also MBA in Rural Managememt covers all products and services of rural management. Both the fields are interested. Best option would be rural management as it covers a wide part.

Yes, most of the colleges are AICTE approved and rural is the best option in the coming future.

Rural Management is a very interesting field as it teaches rural economy, planning, agribusiness, organizing and maintaining co-operatives and businesses in rural areas. This course is helpful for:

• People who wish to make a major contribution to the nation's agriculture sector except farming have ample job opportunities after completing MBA in Rural Management.
• Since farming and agriculture are the primary industries in rural areas, students in rural management courses also gain an in-depth understanding of these fields.
• The advancement of technology has necessitated the application of management principles to the rural sector.

• The graduates can find employment as Project Manager, Operations Manager, Regional Manager, Sales Manager and earn salaries ranging from INR 4 to 8 Lacs at the start.

Yes There are various option available for Rural Management Course to take admission in 2025. It is suitable for the students who cannot not attend a traditional on-campus Course. Some reputable colleges that provide online PGDM\MBA in rural Management programs are:

1. Welingkar Mumbai
2. National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
3. Indian Institute of Business Management and Studies
4. IICT Business School Lucknow
5. Odisha School of Management & Technology
6. Institute of Technical and Professional Studies
7. Kazian School of Management, Miraroad (East)
8. Odisha4 Career Solutions

Yes, it is worth pursuing MBA at KIIT School of Rural Management. The institute offers MBA specilisation in Rural Management and Agribusiness Management. KSRM KIIT offers a two-year MBA programme under the guidance of an expert. The course aims to provide fundamental and analytical knowledge and the necessary skills.  

Yes, it's a full-fledged MBA but with a special focus on rural development, agribusiness, sustainable livelihoods and rural marketing. Instead of managing big cities and corporations, you will learn to solve real problems in rural India such as improving agriculture, health, education, sanitation, and rural entrepreneurship.

It's ideal for someone who wants to use their management skills to make a difference in villages, grassroots communities, NGOs or even in sectors like microfinance and CSR.

So yes, it's an MBA just with a heart for the villages and a mind for smart development.

Great question! If you're someone who checks the list mentioned below, then MBA in Rural Management is made for you:

• Wants to create a social impact through your career
• Feels connected to the roots of India and rural issues
• Loves the idea of grassroots innovation
• Is interested in sectors like NGOs, CSR, agriculture, and development policy
• Believes in “profit with purpose”

It's not just for social workers or farmer's kids it's for anyone who wants to lead rural transformation with professionalism and heart.