MBA in Rural Management is a two-year postgraduate program that deals with making effective use of statistical methods and drawing inferences and conclusions from several types of data. The course aims to provide insights into the rural economy and the functioning of micro-finance institutions and small finance banks.
Admission to MBA Rural Management is through the top MBA entrance exams such as ATMA, CAT, XAT, MAT, etc., group discussions, and personal interviews conducted by the universities. As part of the eligibility criteria, a candidate should have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks or unreserved and 45% for SC/ST/PwD category from an accredited university. The MBA in Rural Management fees are in the range of INR 10,000 – 6 LPA.
Table of Contents
| Degree | Masters |
| Full Form | Master of Business Administration in Rural Management |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Age | No specific age restriction. |
| Entrance Exam | CAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, NMAT, etc. |
| Minimum Percentage | 50% in graduation for unreserved category and 45% marks for reserved categories like SC/ST/PWD. |
| Average Fees | ₹3 LPA |
| Similar Options of Study | MBA in Agribusiness Management |
| Average Salary | INR 3 to 12 LPA [Source:Payscale] |
| Employment Roles | Rural Development Officers, Rural Sales Managers, Rural Business Development Managers, etc. |
| Top Recruiters | HDFC, Dabur, Ministry of Rural Development, TATA Motors, Hindustan Unilever, etc. |
Master of Business Administration in Rural Management trains students on the practices used to maintain agribusinesses in rural areas. The course highlights the principles used to resolve agriculture and farmer-related grievances for rural development. MBA in Rural Management course is one of the most rewarding specializations of MBA courses. Students can pursue the course from some best universities like Xavier School of Rural Management, IIHMR, KIIT, etc.
MBA in Rural Management course offers lucrative job opportunities for graduates in livelihood-focused organizations, food processing industries, small finance banks, government PSUs, NGOs, etc. The average salary of an MBA in Rural Management graduate is in the range of INR 3-12 LPA. (Source: Payscale)
The MBA Rural Management eligibility can vary depending on the type of university. Listed below are the basic eligibility criteria that students must fulfill to get admission to the course:
The Rural Management MBA course focuses deeply on the importance of rural infrastructure, rural markets, and sustainable rural development. Listed below are some points why students should pursue MBA Rural Management courses.
Admission to the MBA in Rural Management course for most colleges is based on merit and entrance exams. The colleges conduct group discussions and personal interviews for the final selection of students. Below are the steps to be followed for students during admissions for the MBA Rural Management course.
Read More on MBA Admission
Scores obtained in the entrance exams will determine the candidate’s admission to some top MBA in Rural Management colleges in India. The entrance exams are conducted at the national, state, and university levels. Some of the main entrance exams are given below:
|
MBA in Rural Management Entrance Exams |
Tentative Registration Date |
Accepting Colleges |
|
Aug 2 – Sep 13, 2023 |
KIIT, IIHMR, University of Delhi |
|
|
Aug 17 – Sep 14, 2023 |
Amity University, KIIT, ASBM University |
|
|
Jul 15 – Nov 30, 2023 |
Amity University, Xavier School of Rural Management, Chitkara University |
|
|
Aug 1 – Oct 10, 2023 |
Shoolini University, Chitkara University |
|
|
February 2024 |
GIET, Shoolini University |
|
|
August 2023 |
KIIT, Amity University |
|
|
December 2023 |
IIHMR, KIIT |
Read More: MBA Entrance Exams
MBA in Rural Management fees in India are around INR 10,000 – 6 LPA. There have been several colleges offering MBA Rural Management courses in India as this sector provides employment to a large number of people. Below are some of the best government and private colleges for an MBA in Rural Management in India along with fee details.
Government colleges that offer an MBA in Rural Management are affordable and cater to the economically backward and financially despondent section of society. Here is a table of government colleges offering MBA Rural Management course:
|
Sl.No |
Institution |
Average Fees (INR) |
|
1 |
Kumaun University |
46,000 PA |
|
2. |
40,000 PA |
|
|
3. |
Shivaji University |
– |
|
4. |
Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University |
3,000 PA |
|
5. |
Mumbai University |
70,000 LPA |
|
6. |
Sambalpur University |
7,606 PA |
|
7. |
Babasaheb B.R Ambedkar University |
10,000 PA |
There are top private colleges in India offering MBA in Rural Management with the best infrastructure and faculties. Listed below are the best private colleges:
|
Sl.No. |
Institutions |
Average Fees (INR) |
|
1. |
GIET University |
– |
|
2. |
IIHMR Jaipur |
2 LPA |
|
3. |
Amity University |
1.70 LPA |
|
4 |
Xavier School of Rural Management |
6 LPA |
|
5. |
Shoolini University |
1.35 LPA |
|
6. |
Regional Institute of Management and Technology |
3.8 LPA |
|
7. |
RNB Global University |
1.14 LPA |
|
8. |
Shri Venkateshwara University |
1.25 LPA |
|
9. |
Chitkara University |
2.8 LPA |
|
10. |
ASBM University |
2.40 LPA |
The two-year full-time residential MBA in Rural Management at XIM University is the second-oldest rural management program in the country. The course is designed to create professionals with the necessary skills to run business and develop organizations for the betterment of rural communities Given below is the course details.
|
Eligibility |
Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation in any stream from UGC approved university or equivalent + Entrance exams like XAT |
|
Duration |
2 years |
|
Course fees |
INR 6 LPA |
MBA in Rural Management from KIIT School of Rural Management is a flagship program judiciously designed in balance with classroom and field-based experiential learning. Students will get to spend 30 percent of the total course credits through fieldwork. Below is the MBA in Rural Management course information:
|
Eligibility |
Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years duration with at least 50% marks (45% in case of candidates belonging to the reserved category) + Entrance Exams like CAT, MAT, KIITEE |
|
Duration |
2 years |
|
Courses fees |
INR 1.6 LPA |
MBA in Rural Management at IGNOU throws light on the implementation of developmental plans, development needs, and ground realities of the rural sector. Below mentioned are the course details:
|
Eligibility |
|
|
Duration |
2-5 years |
|
Course fees |
INR 37,800 PA |
The Rural Management MBA degree is offered in 3 modes, full-time, online and distance modes. There are various colleges offering this course for the benefit of students and as per their comfort. MBA in Rural Management course details are given below:
|
Type |
Eligibility for MBA Rural Management Courses |
MBA Rural Management Duration |
Colleges |
|
MBA Rural Management Full Time |
Candidate should have completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks + Entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT |
2 Years |
XIM University, IIHMR, KIIT |
|
Online MBA Rural Management |
Candidate should have completed a bachelor’s degree minimum of years) with a minimum of 50% marks |
2 years |
DU SOL |
|
Distance MBA Rural Management |
Candidate should have completed a bachelor’s degree minimum of years) with a minimum of 50% marks |
2-5 years |
IGNOU, ICFAI |
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted in India to get admission into MBA courses in top B-schools and colleges like IIMs. The CAT cut-offs vary every year depending on the exam toughness and the number of candidates appearing for the exam etc. The exam will be conducted this year on November 26.
The CAT cut-off 2023 will be released by colleges after the CAT exam 2023 is conducted across India. Given below is the list of the best MBA Rural Management colleges in India along with their 2022 CAT cut-off for general category students:
|
College Name |
CAT Cutoff 2022 |
|
Delhi University |
90+ percentile |
|
KIIT |
80+ percentile |
|
Amity University |
70-75+ percentile |
|
IIHMR |
50-55+ percentile |
The MBA Rural Management syllabus includes topics on Rural Society and Institutions, Rural Infrastructure, Rural Markets, etc. The course is divided into four semesters, and the curriculum includes field visits, live projects, case studies, and internships. The course core subjects are explained below:
|
MBA Rural Management Subjects |
Topics Covered |
|
Agricultural and Rural Marketing |
Concept and Scope of Rural Market, Rural Consumer Behaviour, Market Segmentation, Challenges in Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Produces and Their Market, etc. |
|
Rural Society and Rural Administration |
Rural Society: Basic features, Rural stratification, Rural Power Structures, Rural Administration: Concept and Scope |
|
Agriculture Business Management |
Introduction to Agribusiness, Agriculture Marketing, Agro-processing industries in India, Business Legislation: Essential Commodities Act, Food Adulteration Act, etc. |
|
Banking and Microfinance |
Overview of Indian banking Sector, Types of Banks, Reserve Banks Regulations, Bank’s Role in Rural Development, RRB, NABARD, MicroFinance Companies in Urban and Rural economy, etc. |
|
Entrepreneurship and Management |
Definition of Entrepreneurship, Women Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Feasibility Managerial Competency, etc |
|
Infrastructure Management |
Importance of Basic Infrastructure, Infrastructure Financing Through Loan, Guarantees, Road, Rail, Air, Sea, Port Infrastructure, Rural Infrastructure, etc |
Read More: MBA Rural Management Syllabus
MBA in Rural Management focuses more on managing principles of the rural sector, planning organisations, and control of the cooperatives in the field of agriculture while MBA in Agribusiness deals with topics on agricultural food production and agriculture marketing and finance. The table below showcases the differences between the two courses.
|
Parameter |
MBA in Rural Management |
MBA in Agri-Business |
|---|---|---|
|
Full-Form |
Master in Business Administration in Rural Management |
Master of Business Administration in Agri-Business |
|
Stream |
Post Graduation |
Post Graduation |
|
Course Duration |
2 years |
2 years |
|
Eligibility |
Minimum 50% in the undergraduate degree |
Minimum 50% in the undergraduate degree |
|
Entrance Exams |
CAT, MAT, XAT, etc |
CAT, MAT, XAT, etc |
|
Top Colleges |
Xavier School of Rural Management, KIIT, ASBM University |
IIM Ahmedabad, SIIB, Amity University |
|
Fees |
INR 10,000 – 6 LPA |
INR 90,000 – 10 LPA |
|
Average Salary |
INR 3-12 LPA |
INR 4-11 LPA |
|
Job Roles |
Rural Development Manager, Microfinance Manager, Project Manager, etc. |
Agribusiness Manager, Commodity Trader, Farm Manager, etc. |
Students can pursue higher studies after an MBA in Rural Management. They can either go for research or look for certification courses related to rural development and management. Listed below are some of the higher education options available for the students.
MBA in Rural Management salary for graduates ranges approximately between INR 3-12 LPA (Source: Payscale). The salary depends on the type of company, location, job experience, etc. Some of the top cities where students can seek jobs are:
|
Top Cities in India |
Average Salary |
|
Hyderabad |
INR 4.4 LPA |
|
Chennai |
INR 3.7 LPA |
|
Pune |
INR 3.1 LPA |
|
Bangalore |
INR 3 LPA |
|
Gurgaon |
INR 2.1 LPA |
|
Delhi |
INR 2.1 LPA |
|
Mumbai |
INR 2 LPA |
[Souce: Ambition Box]
Read More: MBA Rural Management Salary
There are various job opportunities for students of Rural Management MBA in the field of rural management and agriculture. The graduates can get hired on job profiles as Rural Development Officers, Rural Executives, Rural Managers, etc. Listed below are some job designations in some top companies.
|
Job Designations |
Job Description |
Companies |
Average Salary (INR) |
|
Rural Development Officer |
Supervises the developmental plans and their implementation in rural areas |
Union Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, J.K.Trust, Ministry of Rural Development |
INR 3 LPA |
|
Rural Sales Manager |
Identifying opportunities and potential markets in rural areas and fixing sales targets for employees |
Maruti Suzuki, TATA Motors, Care Health Insurance, Ion Exchange India |
7 LPA |
|
Rural Sales Executive |
Sells products by establishing contact and developing relationships with customers |
HDB Financial Services, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Dabur |
2 LPA |
|
Rural Development Manager |
Studies, plans organizes, directs and controls ways to improve the economic welfare of the people living in rural areas |
Havells, Britannia, Mahindra and Mahindra, Abt Industries |
9.1 LPA |
|
Rural Sales Officer |
Performs competitive analysis, market research, and product assessment |
ITC, PepsiCo, Agro Tech Foods, Cavinkare |
3.2 LPA |
[Sources: Ambition Box & Glassdoor]
Students pursuing MBA courses can avail various scholarships to help them during their studies. Listed below are some MBA Rural Management Management scholarships offered by government and private institutions:
|
Scholarship |
Eligibility |
Scholarship Amount |
|
Shri P D Agarwal Scholarship |
50% or above aggregate marks in bachelor’s degree & 50 percentile or above in CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/NMAT |
INR 1,00,000 |
|
Aditya Birla Group Scholarships |
60% marks in the undergraduate studies |
Rs.1,75,000 per Student Per Year |
|
Post Graduate Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST |
Students must belong to the SC/ST category and be pursuing a professional course at the postgraduate level |
INR 4,500 Per Month |
|
Amity University Scholarship |
95% aggregate and above in CBSE/ ISC Board of Class XII and 80% in Graduation |
100% Scholarship |
|
ONGC Scholarship |
Students must have passed graduation with a minimum 60% mark |
INR 48,000 per Annum to Each Scholar |
Listed below are some essential technical and soft skills that graduates of MBA in Rural Management graduates must possess:
MBA Rural Management syllabus focuses on the study of management and principles of the rural sector, planning, organisation, and control of rural cooperatives. The two-year MBA Rural Management program is divided into four semesters with core coursework, electives, and internships.
The MBA Rural Management subjects aim at understanding rural communities and business through topics like rural marketing, rural finance and microfinance, rural technology, and innovation, etc. The course also equips students with the usage of tools like crop monitoring, pest management, web analytics for rural marketing, etc.
Table of Contents
The MBA Rural Management syllabus covers foundational topics like rural marketing, finance to advance, and industry-relevant topics like environment sustainability in rural industry, rural entrepreneurship, etc. Following is a semester-by-semester breakdown of the MBA in Rural Management syllabus:
The MBA Rural Management Syllabus in the first year deals with the study of agriculture management, rural development theories, etc. The following table contains the MBA in Rural Management syllabus for the first year:
|
Semester I |
Semester II |
|
Managerial Economics |
Research Methodology |
|
Rural India History |
Understanding Governance in Rural Sector |
|
Natural Resource Management |
Business Communication |
|
Managerial Finance |
Rural Enterprise Financial Management |
|
Rural Livelihood and Production |
Fundamentals of Organization Behaviour |
In the second year of the MBA Rural Management Syllabus, students learn about advanced concepts such as agribusiness models, rural policy analysis, etc. The following table contains the MBA in Rural Management Syllabus for the second year:
|
Semester III |
Semester IV |
|
Models in Rural Development |
Rural Entrepreneurship Development |
|
Rural Strategic Management |
Fundamentals of Marketing Management |
|
Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship |
Rural Management Project Planning |
|
Elective-I |
Elective-III |
|
Elective-II |
Elective-IV |
|
Fundamentals of Agribusiness Management |
Rural Finance |
|
Summer Training/Internship Program |
Project Report/Viva |
Practical Topics in the Second-Year MBA in Rural Management Syllabus
Some of the practical topics in the second-year MBA Rural Management subjects are given below:
MBA Rural Management subjects are classified into core and elective subjects with topics such as Rural Policy Frameworks, Rural Community Development, Rural Finance Management, etc. In the list below are MBA subjects for Rural Management:
The MBA Rural Management core subjects focus on understanding core business fundamentals related to rural management such as rural policies, marketing, people management, etc. Below listed are a few MBA in Rural Management core subjects:
The MBA Rural Management elective subjects help students excel in a particular domain and build their career according to their interest area and future goal. Below listed are a few MBA Rural Management elective subjects:
MBA Rural Management subjects focus on understanding advanced concepts like rural branding and positioning, financial modelling for rural development, rural supply chain optimization, etc. The topics covered by the MBA Rural Management subjects are listed in the table below:
|
MBA Rural Management Subjects |
Topics |
|
Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
Rural Business Opportunities, Business Planning and Feasibility Analysis, Rura Enterprise Scaling Strategies, etc. |
|
Rural Finance and Microfinance |
Role of Rural Finance in Economic Development, Microfinance Concepts and Models, Rural Credit Delivery, etc. |
|
Natural Resource Management |
Sustainable Agriculture Practices, Management of Natural Resources at the Local Level, Waste Management, Legal Frameworks for Resource Management, etc. |
|
Rural Development |
Rural Development Theories and Models, Rural Infrastructure Development Concepts, Gender and Social Inclusion in Rural Development, etc. |
|
Rural Marketing and Market Research |
Rural Consumer Behaviour, Market Segmentation in Rural Areas, Distribution Strategies in Rural Areas, etc. |
The MBA Rural Management course syllabus may vary depending on the curriculum architecture of various colleges, but the course’s primary goal is always to help students comprehend the value of rural management framework and policies for development The following is a list of the MBA Rural Management Syllabus for colleges:
RIMT University MBA Rural Management syllabus focuses on providing knowledge about rural socio-economic challenges and opportunities for development, microfinance and credit delivery in rural areas, etc. Below listed is the RIMT University MBA Rural Management Syllabus:
|
Semester I |
Semester II |
|
Business Communication |
Fundamentals of Marketing Management |
|
Managerial Accounting |
Human Resource Management |
|
Fundamentals of Management Science |
Fundamentals of Financial Management |
|
Business Environment |
Seminar on Value Ethics |
|
Economics for Managers |
Short Certification Course |
|
Skill Development Workshop |
Fundamentals of Data Analysis and Interpretation |
|
Semester III |
Semester IV |
|
Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
Rural Supply Chain Management |
|
Rural Policies and Development |
Research Methods in Rural Management |
|
Fundamentals of Operation Research |
Rural Finance and Banking |
|
Rural Marketing |
Seminar on Entrepreneurship Development in Digital Economy |
|
Capstone Project |
Elective-II |
|
Elective-I |
Project Report/Viva |
KIIT University has a separate department for rural management programs with a focus on developing specialists who can support rural development, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive growth. Below listed is the KIIT MBA Rural Management Syllabus:
|
Semester I |
Semester II |
|
Fundamentals of Marketing Management |
Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
|
Micro Economics |
Macro Economics |
|
Business Communication |
Basics of Organisational Behaviour |
|
Managerial Accounting |
Managerial Finance |
|
Rural Development Perspectives |
Management of Natural Resources and Climate Change |
|
Quantitative Managerial Techniques |
Field Internship |
|
Semester III |
Semester IV |
|
Fundamentals of Agriculture Business Management |
Fundamentals of HRM |
|
Rural Finance and Commercial Banking |
Strategic Management |
|
Rural Development Policies and Strategies |
Innovation in Rural Enterprises and Development |
|
Elective-I |
Sustainable Development in Rural Areas |
|
Agri-Business Management |
Legal Environment and Business Ethics |
|
Field Internship |
Project Report/Viva |
The MBA in Rural Management research project or dissertation gives students insight related to issues and challenges related to rural management. The projects are usually assigned to students in the second year of the course. Below listed are a few common MBA Rural Management project topics:
The course structure for the MBA in Rural Management syllabus consists of lectures, group discussions, guest speakers from the business world, case studies, assignments, and other things. The general MBA Rural Management course format is provided below:
MBA Rural Management teaching methodology includes a combination of classroom discussions, case studies to skill development workshops, cross-disciplinary learning, etc. Below listed are common teaching methodologies and techniques used in MBA Rural Management course:
The books for MBA Rural Management help students understand the concepts of rural development, policies, entrepreneurship, etc. Students can download the MBA in Rural Management book PDF from the respective university website. Below listed are some important books for the course:
|
Books |
Topics Covered |
Author |
|
Rural Marketing: Concepts and Practices |
Rural Market Segmentation, Rural Market Research, Pricing Strategies in Rural Markets, etc. |
C.B. Mamoria and S. R. Gankar |
|
Rural Development: Putting the Last First |
Gender and Social Equity, Participatory Development Concept, Participatory Rural Appraisal, etc. |
Robert Chambers |
|
Rural Development: Principles, Policies and Management |
Rural Development Theories and Approaches, Rural Policy Formation, Rural Institutional Frameworks, etc. |
D. Narasimha Reddy and P. S. R. Murthy |
|
Rural Enterprise: Shifting Perspectives on Small-scale Production |
Rural Entrepreneurship, Rural Enterprise Development Models, Rural Microfinance, etc. |
Anant Phadke and Shubhra Gururani |
