With 65 per cent of India’s population lives in the rural area and 47 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood, rural management becomes the one critical discipline within management education that addresses the complex economic, social, and developmental challenges of rural and semi-urban regions. An MBA or PGDM in Rural Management aims to prepare individuals to work at the intersection of business strategy and social impact.
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Several top colleges in India offer MBA/PGDM programmes in Rural Management. By combining classroom learning with rural immersion programmes, internships, and live projects, MBA in Rural Management programmes enable leaders to become capable of managing rural markets, supply chains, agribusiness operations, development projects, and CSR initiatives.
Unlike general MBA programmes, Rural Management courses focus on rural economies, microfinance, agribusiness systems, public policy, and grassroots leadership. The MBA/PGDM in Rural Management follows a two-year format designed to build expertise in grassroots leadership and strategic planning.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Programme Name | MBA / PGDM in Rural Management |
Duration | 2 Years |
Minimum Eligibility | Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) |
Admission Criteria | Entrance exams (CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, or institute tests); GD/PI/WAT in top institutes. |
Top Colleges | IRMA Anand, Welingkar Mumbai, Chitkara Business School, Patiala |
Career Opportunities | Rural Development Manager, Agri-Business Manager, CSR Project Manager, Rural Supply Chain Manager, Development Consultant, Program Officer in NGOs or Government Agencies |
Employment Sectors | Agri-business Companies, NGOs, CSR Units of Corporations, Cooperatives, Microfinance Institutions, Rural Supply Chain & Logistics Firms, Government Development Agencies, International Development Organisations |
Several institutes in India offer specialised degrees in rural management. The following table highlights the top MBA/PGDM Colleges for Rural Management, their fees, intake capacity, and accepted entrance exams.
| College Name | Ranking / Rating | Course Name | Intake | Institute Type | Total Course Fees | Exams Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IRMA Anand | NIRF - 54 C360 - 12 | PGDM Rural Management | 240 | Autonomous | Rs 17.94 Lakhs | CAT/ XAT |
Welingkar Mumbai | NIRF - 75 C360 - 24 | PGDM Rural Management | 60 | Standalone Institute | Rs 14 Lakhs | CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT/ATMA/MAH MBA CET |
Chitkara Business School, Patiala | C360 - 31 | MBA Rural Management | Constituent College | Rs 7 Lakhs | CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT/NMAT | |
XIM University, Bhubaneswar | C360 - AAAA | MBA Rural Management | 120 | Constituent College | Rs 18.60 Lakhs | CAT/NMAT/ XAT/GMAT/X-GMT |
FMS IRM Jaipur | C360 - AAA+ | PGDM Rural Management | 60 | Standalone Institute | Rs 8.95 Lakhs | CAT/CMAT/XAT/MAT/ATMA |
XISS Ranchi | C360 - AAA+ | PGDM Rural Management | 20 | Autonomous | Rs 11.13 Lakhs | CAT/XAT/ CMAT/ |
BBAU Lucknow | NIRF - 79 C360 - AAA+ | MBA Rural Management | 60 | Central Universities | Rs 20 K | CUET-PG |
IMS, Lucknow | C360 - AAA+ | MBA Rural Management | 60 | Private Institute | Rs 3.24 Lakhs | |
Centre for studies in Rural Management, Gujarat Vidyapeeth | C360 - AAA | MBA Rural Management | 32 | Centre of Gujarat VIdypeeth | Rs 11.56 K |
Placement data for MBA/PGDM programmes in Rural Management across leading institutions indicates strong outcomes.
| College Name | Highest CTC | Median CTC | Average CTC |
|---|---|---|---|
IRMA Anand | Rs 31.84 LPA | Rs 15.80 LPA | Rs 15.64 LPA |
BBAU Lucknow | - | Rs 12.80 LPA | - |
Welingkar Mumbai | Rs 18.80 LPA | Rs 12.69 LPA | Rs 12.00 LPA |
XIM University, Bhubaneswar | Rs 15.00 LPA | Rs 11.50 LPA | Rs 12.50 LPA |
XISS Ranchi | Rs 18.50 LPA | - | - |
IRMA Anand demonstrates strong placement performance with a highest CTC of Rs 31.84 LPA in the academic year 2023-25. The institute recorded the median CTC of Rs 15.80 LPA and average CTC of Rs 15.64 LPA.
Welingkar Mumbai’s Rural Management programme reached a highest CTC of Rs 19 LPA, with an average CTC of Rs 11.47 LPA. XIM University, Bhubaneswar reported a highest salary package of Rs 15 LPA, median package of Rs 11.50 LPA, and an average package of Rs 12.50 LPA for the 2022-24 batch. XISS Ranchi had a median CTC of Rs 8.90 LPA.
The placement rates for MBA/PGDM graduates across top institutions are showing high. While IRMA Anand and BBAU Lucknow recorded 100% placement rate, Welingkar Mumbai achieved 97.20%. XISS Ranchi reported 86.50% placement rate.
Placement Success Rates
| College Name | Placement Rate |
|---|---|
IRMA Anand | 100% |
BBAU Lucknow | 100% |
Welingkar Mumbai | 97.20% |
XISS Ranchi | 86.50% |
Note: Placement Percentage and Median Salary are for the MBA degree, not for specialisations. Data Source- NIRF 2025
| Feature | IRMA Anand | XIM University, Bhubaneswar | BBAU Lucknow | Welingkar Mumbai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking / Rating | NIRF - 54 C360 - 12 | C360 - AAAA | NIRF - 79 C360 - AAA+ | NIRF - 75 C360 - 24 |
Course Fee | Rs 17.94 Lakhs | Rs 18.60 Lakhs | Rs 20,000 | Rs 14 Lakhs |
Median Salary | Rs 15.80 LPA | Rs 11.50 LPA | Rs 12.80 LPA | Rs 12.69 LPA |
Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 97.20% |
Top Recruiters | NDDB, Amul, Atomberg Technologies, AU Small Finance Bank | IndusInd Bank, ICICI, Amul, Ujjivan | Government Agencies, NGOs | McDonald's, Amazon, Datamatics |
In essence, an MBA/PGDM in Rural Management is meant for those who are passionate about sustainable development and agribusiness. This two-year programme blends classroom learning with fieldwork, preparing graduates for leadership roles. With top institutes like IRMA Anand and XIM University, Bhubaneswar achieving 100% placement rates and offering competitive salaries, an MBA/PGDM in Rural Management allows graduates to pursue a career in both the corporate and development sectors.
On Question asked by student community
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1) FLAME university, Pune
2) AIMS institute, Bangalore
3) Doon business school, Dehradun
4) Christ university, Bangalore
5) NIT Trichy
6) KIIT school of management, Bhuvneshwar
Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Last Date to Apply: 10th Feb | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
Highest CTC 30 LPA | #9 in Management Category by Times B-School | Merit-Based Scholarship Upto - 50 Crores
Highest Package 27.25 LPA | Top 100 Average package 16.65 LPA | AACSB Accredited | Ranked 52 by QS International
#36 in NIRF, NAAC ‘A’ Grade | 100% Placement, up to 30% meritorious scholarships