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MBA Rural Management: Admission 2025, Syllabus, Eligibility, Colleges, Careers

Dharti Bhadla's profile picture

Updated on Jun 26, 2025

Dharti Bhadla

MBA Rural Management is a 2-year postgraduate degree with a special focus on rural development in terms of facilities, livelihood, finances, agriculture, and other essential services in rural areas of the country. The curriculum integrates core business management principles (finance, marketing, HR, operations) with an understanding of rural sociology, development, and specific rural sectors like agriculture and handicrafts.

 

To take admission in this program, aspirants must have obtained a minimum of 50-60% or CGPA above 5 in UG degree. Any graduates having BA, BCom, BSc or BSW can enrol in this program if they are qualified for MBA entrance exam (CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, etc). Some universities grant admission on direct basis (considering UG merit) whereas, others assess an entrance exam score as well as performance in PI and GD rounds.

 

One can pursue MBA Rural Management from institutes like Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) Ranchi, XIM University Bhubaneswar (formerly XIMB), KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) Bhubaneswar, etc. With an MBA Rural Management degree, you can work in NGOs, private finances and agribusiness firms, or in consultancy firms.

 

Table of Contents

  1. MBA Rural Management Key Highlights
  2. What is an MBA in Rural Management?
  3. Why Study MBA Rural Management?
  4. Who should study MBA Rural Management?
  5. MBA Rural Management Eligibility Criteria
  6. MBA Rural Management Entrance Exams
  7. MBA Rural Management Colleges in India
  8. MBA Rural Management Admission Process
  9. MBA Rural Management Syllabus
  10. MBA Rural Management Job Opportunities in India
  11. MBA Rural Management FAQs

 

MBA Rural Management Key Highlights

The key highlights of MBA Rural Management are tabulated below.

Particulars

Details

Course Name

Master of Business Administration in Rural Management

Course Level

Postgraduate

Duration

2 years

Course Type

Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning, Online (availability varies by institution)

Admission Process

Based on CAT, MAT, GMAT, CUET PG, etc, exams

Eligibility Criteria

50-60% in UG from a recognised university (B.Sc. Ag./Hort./Forestry, or B.Sc. ( Hons.) Agriculture/ Horticulture/Forestry, or other relevant degree)

Course Fees

-

Subjects

Principles of Management, Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Rural Society and Institutions, Management of Social Empowerment, Research Methodology, Financial Management, Indian Financial System, Management Information Systems, Legal Aspects in Management.

Top Colleges

Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) Ranchi, XIM University Bhubaneswar (formerly XIMB), KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) Bhubaneswar, Delhi University (Faculty of Management Studies), etc.

Job Profiles

Rural Development Officer, Business Development Manager, Research Officer/Consultant, Rural Executive, Rural Manager, Senior Program Officer, etc.

Top Recruiters

NGOs & Development Organizations such as PRADHAN, SEWA, CARE, BAIF, Naandi Foundation, Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, etc.

 

Financial Institutions like NABARD, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI, Muthoot Fincorp, IndusInd Bank, various Small Finance Banks, Microfinance Institutions. And Agri-Business Companies

Average Salary in India

INR 3 to 7 LPA

 

What is an MBA in Rural Management?

An MBA in Rural Management is a specialized postgraduate degree focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities within rural economies and communities.

  • It equips graduates with skills to manage businesses, non-profit organizations, and government initiatives operating in rural and agrarian contexts.
  • The program emphasizes sustainable development, social impact, inclusive growth, and the creation of livelihoods in rural areas.
  • The students have to be involved in field visits, rural immersions, and practical projects to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of rural realities.

 

Why Study MBA Rural Management?

The perks of studying MBA Rural Management are as follows.

 

Growing Sector: The rural sector, including agribusiness, rural finance, and development, is a significant contributor to the economy and offers substantial growth potential. This ensures job stability for graduates in this field.

 

Social Impact: Studying rural management offers a pathway to a career where you can contribute directly to poverty alleviation, community development, and improving rural livelihoods.

 

Diverse Career Paths: MBA Rural Management opens doors to roles in agribusiness, microfinance, development consulting, NGOs, government rural schemes, and corporate CSR.

 

Specialized Skill Set: It develops a niche skill set with a combination of business acumen, making graduates highly valuable to specialized organizations.

 

Who should study MBA Rural Management?

MBA in Rural Development can be a good choice of career for individuals with a passion for rural development. People who genuinely care about improving their lives in rural areas and want their work to have a positive social impact should pursue this program to shape their career.

 

Students from agriculture, commerce, humanities, engineering, or any discipline interested in applying management principles to rural contexts can explore this course as it leads to a dynamic career in rural management.

 

MBA Rural Management is also suitable for aspiring agribusiness professionals. Those looking to build careers in the vast and evolving agricultural value chain can count on this professional degree program. Individuals interested in working with NGOs, international development organizations, or government bodies on rural schemes and policies will find this course an ideal to start their career.

 

MBA Rural Management Eligibility Criteria

MBA Rural Management eligibility criteria includes obtaining 50-60% or equivalent CGPA in Bachelor’s degree.

  • Graduates from BSc Forestry, Agriculture, or BSW students are eligible to apply.
  • The duration of the Bachelor's degree should typically be at least 3 years (10+2+3 pattern). Some universities might prefer a 4-year undergraduate degree, especially for certain specialized fields like agriculture.
  • With this, aspirants have to qualify MBA entrance exam to be eligible for MBA Rural Management.

 

MBA Rural Management Entrance Exams

MBA Rural Management admission is based on common entrance exams like CAT, MAT, CMAT, or other institute-specific exams. Candidates can consider the following entrance exam for enrolling in MBA Rural Management.

Exam Name

Application Date

 

(Tentative)

Exam Date

 

(Tentative)

Application Fee

CAT 2025

August 2 - September 21, 2025

November 30, 2025

INR 2,500 (General/EWS/NC-OBC), INR 1,250 (SC/ST/PwD)

MAT 2025

Multiple sessions throughout the year.

Multiple sessions throughout the year.

INR 2,200 (for one session), INR 3,800 (for two sessions)

CMAT 2026

November - December 25, 2025

January 25, 2026

INR 2,500 (General), INR 1,250 (EWS/OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Female)

GMAT 2025

Rolling admissions; can apply and schedule anytime.

Available throughout the year, multiple slots daily.

-

CUET PG 2026

January - February, 2026

March - April, 2026

NR 1,400 (General - for up to 2 papers), INR 1,200 (OBC-NCL/Gen-EWS - for up to 2 papers), INR 1,100 (SC/ST/Third Gender - for up to 2 papers), INR 1,000 (PwBD - for up to 2 papers).

 

Additional fees for more papers.

 

MBA Rural Management Colleges in India

MBA Rural Management is offered by limited institutes. Some of the best MBA Rural Management colleges are mentioned in the table below.

College Name

Location

Total Course Fees (Approx)

NIRF Ranking

 

(Management)

Galgotias University

Uttar Pradesh

INR 6,35,000

98

KIIT School of Rural Management

Odisha

INR 18,00,620

67

Xavier School of Rural Management

Odisha

INR 15,60,000

43

Chitkara University

Punjab

INR 4,50,000

54

Amity School of Rural Management

Uttar Pradesh

INR 3,40,000

29

 

MBA Rural Management Admission Process

Admission to MBA Rural Management is primarily based on CAT or other MBA entrance exam. Some universities may provide direct admission considering UG merit and performance in PI. Candidates are advised to go through the admission guidelines and selection criteria while applying to the chosen institute.

 

Given below is a step-wise MBA Rural Management admission process for the Xavier School of Rural Management:

 

Step 1. Entrance Exam: Candidates have to appear in any one of these valid management entrance tests: XAT, CAT, NMAT by GMAC, GMAT, or XGMT (XIM University's own test).

 

Step 2. Online Application: Regardless of your exam, you must complete and submit the dedicated MBA-RM online application form on the XIM University website. Fill out the required information in the application form and upload necessary documents.

 

Step 3. Shortlisting: XIM University will shortlist candidates based on their entrance exam scores, academic records, and other profile details.

 

Step 4. Written Ability Test (WAT): Shortlisted candidates have to participate in a WAT to assess their writing and analytical skills on a given topic, often related to social or rural issues.

 

Step 5. Group Discussion (GD): Candidates will be asked to engage in a group discussion to evaluate communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

 

Step 6. Personal Interview (PI): There will be an interview panel to assess your personality, motivation for rural management, understanding of rural challenges, career aspirations, and relevant experience.

 

Step 7. Final Selection: Admission is based on a holistic evaluation of your entrance exam score, performance in WAT, GD, PI, academic record, and work experience.

 

Step 8. Confirmation: Selected candidates will receive an Admission Offer. Candidates have to accept the offer and pay the initial fees to confirm a seat, followed by document submission.

 

Documents Required:

  • Original Marksheet of 10th and 12th grade, Graduation certificate
  • School Leaving Certificate
  • Caste Certificate (if applicable)
  • Birth Certificate
  • ID Proof (Aadhar/ PAN/ Passport)
  • Passport-size Photograph
  • Entrance Exam Score Card

 

MBA Rural Management Syllabus

MBA Rural Management subjects are based on core management principles and rural development concepts. The syllabus typically covers Principles of Management, Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Rural Society and Institutions, Management of Social Empowerment, etc.

 

The table below represents the MBA Rural Development syllabus followed by Galgotias University.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Concepts of Management

Social Policies and Environment

Basics of Rural Marketing Management

Rural Business Accounting Management

Basics of Rural Financial Management

Production and Operations Management

Organizational Behavior

ICT in Business Management

Human Resource Management

Supply Chain Management

MIS and Computer Applications

Strategic Management

Semester 3

Semester 4

Research Methodology and Case Study

Thesis/Project/Specialization Courses

Rural business Projects Management

-

Commodity Procurement and Trading

-

International Trade and Policies

-

Rural Finance and Risks Management

-

Digital Platform Economy

-

 

MBA Rural Management Job Opportunities in India

Some of the highly recognised MBA Rural Management jobs are tabulated below.

Job Title

Recruiters

Experience Level

Average Salary (INR)

Rural Development Officer

Government (NABARD, NIRDPR, State Rural Development Departments), NGOs (PRADHAN, SEWA, CARE, BAIF, Naandi Foundation), CSR wings of Corporates (Vedanta CSR, Tata Steel CSR)

Entry-level (0-2 years) to Senior

3 LPA - 7 LPA (Entry-level)

 

6 LPA - 18 LPA (Experienced)

Business Development Manager

FMCG & Agri-Business Companies (Amul, Godrej Agrovet, ITC Agri-Business Division, Nestle, Britannia), Microfinance Institutions, Rural Marketing Firms, etc.

Entry-level (0-2 years) to Senior

3 LPA - 6 LPA (Entry-level)

 

6 LPA - 23 LPA (Experienced)

Microfinance Specialist

Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), Small Finance Banks, Development Banks (NABARD), NGOs involved in financial inclusion

Entry-level (0-2 years) to Senior

4 LPA - 9 LPA

NGO Project Manager/Program Officer

Various National and International NGOs

Mid-level (2-5 years) to Senior

4.5 LPA - 6 LPA (Mid-level);

 

7 LPA - 15 LPA+ (Senior)

Rural Marketing Manager

FMCG Companies, Agri-Business Companies, Consumer Durables, Automotive (with rural presence)

Mid-level (2-5 years) to Senior

8 LPA - 15 LPA+

 

MBA Rural Management FAQs

What kind of internships are available during the MBA Rural Management program?

An MBA Rural Management internship is typically 2-3 months long and involves working with diverse organizations. This could include FMCG companies (rural marketing projects), microfinance institutions, agri-input companies, NGOs (on livelihood or community development projects), government rural development agencies, or consulting firms with a rural focus. Many programs emphasize fieldwork and immersion during internships.

Is an MBA in Rural Management can be pursued without an agriculture background?

Yes, while an agriculture background benefits admission and learning of the curriculum, it's not a prerequisite. Any graduates can pursue this course as an MBA Rural Management is designed to bring students from diverse educational backgrounds (engineering, commerce, humanities, etc.) in rural concepts and agricultural basics. What's more important is an interest in rural development and a willingness to understand rural dynamics.

Are there opportunities for international careers after an MBA in Rural Management?

Yes,one can explore working with international NGOs, development agencies (like UNDP, World Bank, FAO), and multinational corporations with strong rural or agribusiness presence in developing countries. Further, graduates may consider a PhD in relevant areas or work as a research associate in foreign universities or research centers dealing with Agriculture and Rural Development.

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