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 a CGPA above 5 in a UG degree. Any graduates having a BA, BCom, BSc, or BSW can enrol in this program if they are qualified for the MBA entrance exam (CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, etc). Some universities grant admission on a direct basis (considering UG merit), whereas others assess an entrance exam score as well as performance in PI and GD rounds.
One can take admission in 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 in Rural Management, you can work in NGOs, private finance and agribusiness firms, or consultancy firms.
- MBA Rural Management Key Highlights
- What is an MBA in Rural Management?
- Why Study MBA Rural Management?
- Who should study an MBA Rural Management?
- MBA Rural Management Eligibility Criteria
- MBA Rural Management Entrance Exams
- MBA Rural Management Colleges in India
- MBA Rural Management Admission Process
- MBA Rural Management Syllabus
- MBA Rural Management Job Opportunities in India
- MBA Rural Management Vs MBA Urban Management
- MBA Rural Management FAQs
MBA Rural Management Key Highlights
The key highlights of MBA Rural Management are tabulated below.
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 an 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 in 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 an MBA Rural Management?
An MBA in Rural Development can be a good choice of career choice 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 careers.
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.
The course 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 way to start their careers.
MBA Rural Management Eligibility Criteria
MBA Rural Management eligibility criteria include obtaining 50-60% or equivalent CGPA in a Bachelor’s degree.
- Graduates from BSc Forestry, Agriculture, or BSW 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 the course.
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 exams.
MBA Rural Management Colleges in India
MBA Rural Management is offered by a limited institutes. Some of the best MBA Rural Management colleges are mentioned in the table below.
MBA Rural Management Admission Process
Admission to the course is primarily based on CAT or other MBA entrance exams. Some universities may provide direct admission considering UG merit and performance in the 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 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 the 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 Management syllabus followed by Galgotias University.
MBA Rural Management Job Opportunities in India
Some of the highly recognised MBA Rural Management jobs are tabulated below.
MBA Rural Management Vs MBA Urban Management
MBA Rural Management aims at sustainable development, farming, as well as the development of building a community in the countryside, whereas MBA Urban Management specializes in urban infrastructure, property, and urban planning. The comparison table provided below will help in understanding better.
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.
Can an MBA in Rural Management be pursued without an agricultural background?
Yes, while an agricultural background benefits admission and learning of the curriculum, it's not a prerequisite. Any graduate 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.
Can I opt to pursue higher studies after the MBA Rural Management course?
The graduates can seek doctoral courses (PhD) in rural development in management or in social work, or any discipline related to this. The requirement of a PhD typically needs a two-year post-grad and qualification test, such as UGC-NET, GATE, etc. Doctoral work presents opportunities in research, teaching as well and advisory functions.
