Rural Development Specialist/Manager
Plans, supervises and implements development schemes that improve life and livelihoods in rural areas.
Overview
A Rural Development Officer is a State Government official who is concerned with the development of rural areas. He or she is primarily responsible for supervising the developmental plans and their implementation to the areas assigned to him or her. Rural Development Professionals study, plan, organize, direct and control ways to improve the quality of life and economic welfare of the people living in rural areas. They make changes and improvements in the agriculture, healthcare, education, social situations, economy, employment, management of natural resources, banking and finance, technology, and industries majorly relating to the rural areas by handling farming schemes, old age pension, schemes for specially-abled, NREGA, health and medical facilities, etc.
Where they work
- Panchayati Raj institutions
- Rural Cooperatives
- NGOs
- Agribusiness
- Public or private sector rural development initiatives
- Leadership roles on donor-funded agriculture development projects
Work environment
It involves extensive field work and travel. Typically, you will have an office but also regularly work in the field, depending on the type of organization you would be working in. Entrepreneurship: you can start your own start up or a Non-Governmental Organisation to serve for the welfare of the rural communities.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You can comfortably talk with everyone.
- You like to lead.
- You like to organize things.
- You like to work in a team.
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Completion of 10+2 in any stream
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Rural Studies/Rural Development/Rural Management/Anthropology
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree in any discipline, followed by Master's in Rural Development/Rural Management or any related field
Alternative route 3
- 1Pursue a Diploma in Rural Management/Rural Development
Forms, exams and applications
For admission to management institutes offering UG and PG courses in Rural Management: CAT, XAT, IRMASAT, MAT, SNAP or CMAT. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Management. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan
- Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Sambalpur University, Sambalpur, Odisha
- Kousali Institute of Management Studies, Dharwad, Karnataka
- Jammu University, Jammu & Kashmir
- Centre for Studies in Rural Management, Gujarat Vidyapith, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- KIIT School of Rural Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Institute of Rural Management, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat
- Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi, Jharkhand
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Rural Development Specialist
- 2Senior Rural Development Specialist
- 3Rural Development Manager
- 4Senior Rural Development Manager
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Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to public service.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Sahana Mishra — Has 24 years of experience working on gender, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. She has worked extensively in building women collectives for their socio-economic-political empowerment. Sahana has worked closely with government departments in MP, Odisha, and Bihar. She is skilled in designing and implementing large-scale development projects at the grassroots in partnership with government and non-government agencies. She is a Graduate in Economics and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management and was a fellow in the Leadership Development Program at McCain Institute of International Leadership in the USA.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 685 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/rural-development-manager-salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
IIM Calcutta, a government institute, is printed under private institutes on this card; it is listed under government here. The contents page lists this career on printed page 687, but the card is on 685.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.