Rural Management Course: Admission 2024, Fees, Exams, Syllabus, Career, Jobs, Salary

Updated on Aug 22, 2023 05:57 IST
Jasmine Dang Arora

Jasmine Dang AroraDeputy Manager-Content

Rural Management refers to the study of the rural economy, agribusiness, planning, organising, and maintaining co-operatives and businesses in rural areas and related fields.Rural Management courses apprise students about the latest techniques and methodologies, which will greatly contribute to the improvement of the sector. MBA in Rural Management Admission 2024 is currently underway and students who have completed their bachelor's degree with 50 per cent aggregate marks can apply for the course. 

Candidates interested in taking up this course can appear in several national and state-level entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, MAT, SNAP, and CMAT.  The fees for MBA in Rural Management courses in India range between INR 5 to INR 10 lakh. Rural Management courses are available at undergraduate, postgraduate as well as PhD levels. At the undergraduate level, students can opt for courses like BA/BSc in Rural Management, whereas at the postgraduate level, courses include MA/MSc in Rural Management and MBA/PGDM in Rural Management. 

The top most institute in India for Rural Management is the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), which offers PGDM in Rural Management. Apart from IRMA, IIM Lucknow is well known for its PGP Agribusiness programme. The graduates can work as Regional Managers, Sales Managers, Marketing Managers, and Project Managers and earn salary ranging from INR 4 to 10 lakh. 

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Table of Contents
  1. MBA in Rural Management Course Details
  2. All About MBA Rural Management
    • 2.1 Why MBA Rural Management?
  3. Rural Management Eligibility Criteria
  4. Rural Management Entrance Exams and Admission
  5. Rural Management Syllabus
  6. Top Colleges for MBA Rural Management 
    • 6.1 Top Private Colleges for MBA in Rural Management
    • 6.2 Top Government Colleges for MBA in Rural Management
  7. Rural Management Career Scope: Job Profiles & Top Recruiters 
    • 7.1 Rural Management Top Recruiters
  8. MBA Rural Management FAQs

MBA in Rural Management Course Details

Students can pursue MBA in Rural Management courses to join the most important agriculture sector. MBA Rural Management Admission is dependable on the score obtained by the candidate in an entrance exam. Subjects in MBA Rural Management train students about this management stream and help them in learning the required skills.

The below table contains all the important points related to MBA in Rural Management course:

Particulars Details
Name of Course MBA in Rural Management
Course Level Postgraduate
Course Duration 2 years
Eligibility Completed Bachelor’s degree in any relevant field from a recognised college or university with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks
Entrance Exams CAT, XATNMATCMATMAH CET, etc.
Main Subjects Rural Development, Agriculture Input Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Macroeconomics, etc.
Average Salary INR 4 to INR 10 lakh
Fees INR 5 to INR 20 lakh
Top Recruiters NABARD, Mother Dairy, Amul, Nestle, etc.
Top Colleges IIM Lucknow, Netaji Subhash University, Jamshedpur, Xavier School of Rural Management, etc.

Also Read:

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All About MBA Rural Management

MBA in Rural Management is a two-year postgraduate degree that is divided into four semesters. The MBA in Rural Management course includes the study of various aspects like Cooperative Management, Social Management, Development Management, Rural Projects Management, Public Policy Management, etc. The programme can also be pursued at esteemed universities like the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), where students can complete professional coursework in two years. The course in agribusiness management is designed to produce agro leaders, businesspeople, and administrators.

Why MBA Rural Management?

  • 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 in-depth understanding of these fields.
  • Advancement of technology has necessitated the application of management principles to the rural sector. For this, 
  • The graduates can find employment as Project Manager, Operations Manager, Regional Manager, Sales Manager and earn salary ranging from INR 4 to 8 lakh at the start.

Also Read:

9 must-read books for MBA students and aspirants

Rural Management Eligibility Criteria

Students can check the table below to know the eligibility criteria for courses in Rural Management. Every programme has a different eligibility. Most of the institutes accept candidates on the basis of entrance exam scores like CATXATCMATMATSNAP, etc.

The candidates can check the table below to know the details:

Rural Management Programmes Eligibility
BA/BSc in Rural Management Passed class 10+2 with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate or equivalent from a recognised university or board.
MBA in Rural Management Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum score of 50 percent aggregate in average or equivalent from a university that is state or centrally recognised
MSc courses in Rural Management Candidates must have 50 percent in aggregate in a relevant course at the graduation level
Doctoral degree in Rural Management Candidates must have a relevant postgraduation degree with a minimum of 50 percent in aggregate from a recognised university.
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Rural Management Entrance Exams and Admission

Rural Management admission process includes a common entrance test for management and group discussion and personal interview. IRMA’s admission process includes test on “Issues of Social Concern”, conducted by the institute for candidates having valid CAT or XAT scores.  

Reputable colleges rely on a merit-based admissions process and a cutoff score for the entrance exams. The availability of seats, which may vary depending on the college, is the sole factor determining for admissions. Top entrance exams for MBA in Rural Management are listed below:

Name of Exam Registration Details Exam Details
CAT Begins from 2-Aug-2023 26-Nov-2023
MAT MAT 2023 Registration Process PBT till 29-Aug-2023 2-Sep-2023
XAT Begins on 15-Jul-2023 7-Jan-2024
NMAT First week of August, 2023 Oct-Dec '23
SNAP First week of August, 2023 Dec' 23

Quick Links:

List of all MBA entrance exams Click here to practice MAT Mock Test 2023

Click here to practice CAT Mock Test 2023

Click here to practice CMAT Mock Test 2023

Rural Management Syllabus

The syllabus of rural management programme includes all aspects of Rural Economy and Business such as Microeconomics, Finance, Research, Marketing, Development, Operations, Productions, etc. and field work. We have listed below the course curriculum of IRMA’s Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management, as it is the best and most exhaustive rural management programme in India.

Semester

Subjects

Semester-1
  • Microeconomics
  • Financial Accounting
  • Marketing Research & Analytics
Semester-2
  • Management Information Systems
  • Financial Management
  • Environmental & Livelihood Systems
Semester-3
  • Strategic Management
  • Cost Accounting
  • Operations Research
Semester-4
  • Agriculture Input Marketing
  • Management Ethics
  • Agriculture Input Marketing

Students can also have a look at the table below to know the elective subjects in MBA Rural Management:

Elective Subjects in MBA Rural Management

Rural Development Management Group

Rural Enterprise Management Group

Dairy Development

Agribusiness

Social Marketing

Brand Management

Corporate Social Responsibility

Consumer Behaviour

Cost Benefit Analysis

E-Business for Rural Enterprises

Development and Rural Communication

Entrepreneurship

Also Read: MBA Rural Management Syllabus 

Top Colleges for MBA Rural Management 

There are about 140 MBA colleges in India offering Rural Management programme. Students can pursue MBA in Rural Management from a number of colleges, including the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM). It is becoming one of the popular MBA specialisations. The desirous candidates can see the table below to know the popular private and government colleges along with their fees.

Top Private Colleges for MBA in Rural Management

 Some of the popular private colleges offering MBA in Rural Management colleges in India are:

Name of College Fees (in INR)
Amity University Online, Noida 1.8 lakh
Calcutta Business School, Kolkata 3.4 lakh
Chitkara University, Chandigarh 10.2 lakh
Greater Noida Institute of Technology 6.2 lakh
Institute of Rural Management, Anand  9.9 lakh to 12.6 lakh
Jaipuria, Noida 13.5 lakh
LPU, Jalandhar 4.1 lakh
Shoolini University, Solan 4.6 lakh
Xavier School of Rural Management, Bhubaneswar 12.2 lakh
Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi 8.9 lakh

Top Government Colleges for MBA in Rural Management

The list of government colleges offering MBA in Rural Management are:

Name of College Fees (in INR)
Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University 20,000
IGNOU, Delhi 1,800
30,800
Gujarat University, Ahmedabad -----
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar -----
Bangalore University 10,000 
Himachal Pradesh University 1.4 lakh
1.5 lakh
Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamil Nadu 61,200
Sambalpur University 97,000

Also Read: List of Rural Management colleges in India

Rural Management Career Scope: Job Profiles & Top Recruiters 

A rural management degree holder is eligible for every managerial role in business domains that deal with agricultural products or rural manufacturing. The degree is also useful for those looking for jobs in rural banks, rural cooperatives as well as government and non-government organisations. While a graduate-level candidate is hired at the executive level, PG/MBA degree holder is hired for managerial and senior posts.

Some of the job profiles are listed below:

Job Profile Description Average Salary (in INR)

Regional Manager
A Regional Manager oversees, maintains, and maximise operational practices of the business in a particular area making sure that each branch is running smoothly, and efficiently and meets the revenue target.  INR 11 LPA

Sales Manager
A Sales Manager’s role is to lead the sales team in bringing the maximum number of clients to the business. The role also includes guiding and training team members, setting goals and assigning territories.  INR 5 LPA

Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager’s role is all about performing marketing activities like product promotion, branding, new product development, market study, customer relationship, PR, etc.   INR 6.75 LPA

Project Manager
The Project Manager is responsible for leading and completing the project on time with the least cost. This includes planning, execution, and management of resources and day-to-day activities. INR 11 LPA

General Manager 
The General Manager looks after the overall functioning of a business organisation, that the business activities are optimum on a given day, are cost-effective, and comply with the rules.  INR 23 LPA

Supply Chain Manager
The main role of a Supply Chain Manager is to ensure movement of goods from the manufacturing unit to the supplier and eventually, to the customer.  INR 8.90 LPA

Salary source: Naukri.com

Rural Management Top Recruiters

Agribusiness firms and banks hire rural management graduates in large numbers for their branches in rural areas. Some of the top recruiters for Rural Management degree holders are listed below.

Rural Management Top Recruiters

1.    Amul

2.       Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society – JEEVIKA

3.    National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)

4.       Vedanta CSR

5.    BAIF Development Research Foundation

6.       ITC Limited

7.    ICICI Bank

8.       SBI

9.    IDFC Bank Ltd

10.   Tata Steel Ltd - Agrico, Tubes and Wires, Jamshedpur

11.  LIC

12.   NABARD

13.  Mahindra Agri Solutions

14.   Pidilite Industries Ltd

15.  Godrej Agrovet Limited

16.   Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation

17.  MuthootFincorp

18.   IndusInd Bank Limited

19.  Mapro Foods

20.   Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd

21.  ADM Agro Industries

22.   Supermarket Grocery Supplied Pvt Ltd

23.  Cargill

24.   Tolaram Group

MBA Rural Management FAQs

Q: What is Rural Management?

A: 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

Q. Who can study MBA Rural Management?

A: 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. 

Q. What is the scope of Rural Management?

A: 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

Q. What are the different courses in Rural Management?

A: 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.

Courses in Rural Management Name of Course
Degree Courses
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management
  •  Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Finance
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Marketing
Bachelor Courses
  • Bachelor of Rural Technology and Management
  • BA in Rural Development
Master Courses
  • Master of Arts in Rural Development
  • MBA in Rural Management
Doctoral Courses
  • M. Phil in Rural Development
  • PhD in Rural Development

Q. What is the role of a Rural Manager?

A. 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.

Q. Why is Rural Management courses becoming popular?

A. 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.

 
 

 

Q: What is the admission procedure for MBA in Rural Management course?

A. 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:

Q. Is MBA in rural management worth it?

A. 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 lakh to 10 lakh at the start. They can enhance their pay scale and climb career growth with experience.

Q: Is an Agriculture degree in graduation necessary for MBA in Rural Management?

A: 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.

Q: What are the average fees of an MBA in Rural Management course?

A. The average fee of an MBA in Rural Management course is INR 5 lakh. The fees range between INR 1 lakh (government colleges) to INR 20 lakh (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.

Q. Can MBA in Rural Management be pursued from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)?

A. Yes, a number of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) provide MBA programmes with a Rural Management or similar field specialisation. 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 IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Khozikode, IIM Indore are some if the IIMs offering this MBA specialisation.

Popular Rural Management Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Rural Management Colleges in India. Learn more about these Rural Management colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
14.75 L
7.4 LPA
3 Courses
7.6 L - 13.6 L
15 LPA
2 Courses
1.01 L - 14 L
11.59 LPA
6.25 LPA
1 Course
20 K
7.95 LPA
4.6 L
3.68 LPA

Popular Private Rural Management Colleges in India

10.2 L
7.96 L
8 LPA

Rural Management Applications open. Apply Now

2 Courses
4 L - 6 L
5.0
1 Course
2.6 L
3.6 LPA
1.75 L
3.7

Rural Management Applications open. Apply Now

2.4 L
3.0

Popular Rural Management UG Courses in India

Following are the most popular Rural Management UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Rural Management PG Courses in India

Following are the most popular Rural Management PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 4 days ago

According to the past record both MBA in rural development ans MBA in managment had better placement  .The IRM claims that they provide the 95% placement in MBA program.

IRM is considered the best in rural management college in jaipur, successful in producing the top notch professionals.The highest p

...more

N

Nitesh choudhary

Answered a week ago

Institute has good facilities all around the campus such as Auditorium, Boys Hostel, Girls Hostel, Labs, Library, Sports Complex.

A

Atul Mishra

Answered 2 weeks ago

South Asian Institute of Rural and Agricultural Management offers good infrastructure such as Auditorium, Boys Hostel, Cafeteria, Girls Hostel, Gym, Hospital / Medical Facilities, Hostel, Labs, Library, Sports Complex to students.

A

Atul Mishra

Answered 3 weeks ago

Tabulated below is the KSRM MBA cutoff trend:

KSRM MBA CAT Cutoff (General-All India)

Section

2020

2021

2022

Overall

25

25

25

Quants

25

25

25

VA-RC

25

25

25

DI-LR

25

25

25

M

Manori Sahni

Answered 3 weeks ago

Candidates who want KIIT School of Rural Management admissions can apply online by visiting the official website. The application fee for admissions is INR 1,500.

 

R

Rajshree Singh

Answered 3 weeks ago

Candidates can check the below table for details regarding KIIT School of Rural Management the highest package during KSRM placements:

ParticularsStatistics
the highest packageINR 9 LPA
Average packageINR 5.75 LPA
 

R

Rajshree Singh

Answered 3 weeks ago

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 percent

...more

R

Rajshree Singh

Answered 3 weeks ago

KIIT School of Rural Management provides MBA course in two specialisations. These speciialisations include Rural Management and Agribusiness Management. Candidates can check out the details regarding KSRM MBA fess in the table below:

Programme Name 

Fees 

MBA (Rural Management) 

7.96 Lakhs 

MBA (Agribusiness Management) 

7.97 Lakh 

R

Rajshree Singh

Answered a month ago

Yes, KIIT School of Rural Management accept applications via online mode. It must be noted that it is crucial that each of the aspirant fulfils the eligibility requirements for the respective course. Candidates can further follow the below-mentioned steps to complete the application procedure:

Step 1

...more

M

Manori Sahni

Answered a month ago

Candidates seeking admission at KSRM need to take KIITEE MBA exam. It is conducted by KIIT School of Management (KSOM) for admission to various MBA programmes. The entrance exam is held across 15 cities in India. Candidates with a valid CAT,  MAT,  CMAT and XAT scores can be expemted from KIITEE MBA

...more

M

Manori Sahni

Answered a month ago

As per NIRF report 2023, the IRMA ranking was 54. In 2022, the ranking for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural Management) was 52. It can be concluded that a decreasing trend was observed for as per NIRF report for the year 2022 vs 2023. For more clarity students can check the table presented

...more

40939197
Indrani Choudhury

Answered a month ago

The application fee of MBA at IRMA is INR 2,000 for General, General (EWS) & OBC category and INR 1,000 for SC/ST/PwD category. Students can check the table presented below to have a clear understanding of application fee for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural Management) at IRMA:

CategoryApplication Fee
General, General (EWS) & OBCINR 2,000
SC/ST/PwD*INR 1,000 

Students wh

...more

40939197
Indrani Choudhury

Answered a month ago

Yes, as of now the admission for PGDM (RM) at IRMA is open. IRMA will accept CAT 2023, XAT 2024 and CMAT 2023. However, the candidate also have to meet the latest eligibility criteria, i.e., Graduate with 50% aggregate (45% for ST/SC/OBC/NC General, EWS, PwD. 

40939197
Indrani Choudhury

Answered a month ago

The admissions for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural Management) at IRMA is open. IRMA will accept CAT/XAT 2024 and CMAT 2023 exam score for the academic year 2024-2026. Interested students need to valid above mentioned score to apply for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural Managemen

...more

40939197
Indrani Choudhury

Answered a month ago

KIIT School of Rural Management is a private institution that was founded in 2006 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The institute is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). NAAC has accredited KSRM with an 'A' Grade. The institute has established itself as one of the top universities for rural m

...more

U

Udita Das

Answered a month ago

 

KIIT School of Rural Management is a private institution that was founded in 2006 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The institute is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). NAAC has accredited KSRM with an 'A' Grade. The institute has established itself as one of the top universities for rural

...more

U

Udita Das

Answered a month ago

KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) has been known to offer decent placement opportunities to its students. KIIT University, in general, has a good reputation for placements across various disciplines, and KSRM is no exception.

The school's tie-ups with numerous corporate partners and organization

...more

G

Gagan B

Answered a month ago

To be eligible for admission to KIIT School of Rural Management, candidates must have a recognised graduate degree with a minimum of 15 years (10+2+3) of education and at least 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA). Additionally, they should possess valid scores in exams such as KIITEE Management

...more

G

Gagan B

Answered 2 months ago

No, IIMs do not accept IRMASAT scores for admission to their management programmes. IIMs have their own separate entrance exam, CAT (Common Admission Test) which is used for admission to MBA and other post graduate management programmes. IRMASAT, is only accept by the Institute of Rural Management A

...more

14801983
Saumya Jain

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