IGNOU MA Rural Development Admission 2025: Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Career Scope & Application Process

IGNOU MA Rural Development Admission 2025: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will invite applications for the July session of Master of Rural Development (MARD) from 12th May 2025* and the last date for admission will be 30th June 2025*. Candidates can apply for this program on the official website @ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

School of Continuing Education (SOCE) at IGNOU offers this program with the aim of understanding the development issues relevant to rural society. The duration of this program is 2 years which can be extended upto 5 years. The medium of instruction for this course is English and Hindi.

After the completion of this a candidate can get ample job opportunities in the private and public sector. They can get the job roles like Government Liaison Officer, Rural Development Officer, NGO Worker etc.

IGNOU MA Rural Development Course Highlights Table

You will find all the necessary details like fee structure, syllabus, eligibility criteria, process of enrollment for Master in Rural Development in this article.

Also Read: IGNOU Re-registration 

IGNOU MA Rural Development Course Details

IGNOU MA Rural Development course has 66 credits consisting of subjects like Rural Social Development, Voluntary Action in Rural Development, Land Reforms and Rural Development, Rural Health Care, Communication and Extension in Rural etc.

The Master of Rural Development (MARD) program of the School of Continuing Education is highly beneficial for fresh graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of rural development providing them vast opportunities for pursuing their careers as NGO Workers, Community Development Specialist, Agricultural Extension Officer, and others.

Also with the degree holders this program provides many benefits to the candidates who are already working in different government agencies, cooperative banks, NGOs, and other service areas related to rural transformation.

IGNOU MA Rural Development Admission 2025

For the IGNOU admission of the July session in MA Rural Development course will open their application windows from 12 May 2025* and the last date for the admission will be 30 June 2025*. Candidates can visit the official website of the IGNOU @ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in for enrollment into this course. Candidates can fill out their forms online and offline by visiting the regional center of IGNOU.

The fee for the course of Master of Rural Development is INR 14,000 which can be paid in the small amounts of INR 7,000 per year. Also, the candidates have to pay an additional fee of INR 300 for the registration. The university accepts the payment of fees via Credit Card, Debit Card and Internet Banking.

IGNOU MA Rural Development Eligibility Criteria

For enrollment in IGNOU MARD program, a candidate must fulfill the eligibility criteria for smooth admission. We have mentioned the eligibility criteria below for the interested candidates:-

• A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree from a recognized University in any discipline.
• There is no age limit for enrollment in this program.

IGNOU MA Rural Development Course Fees

The total fee for the IGNOU’s Master in Rural Development is INR 14,000 and the fee for the registration is INR 300. Also the fee for development is also included by the university which is INR 200. There is a relaxation for the candidates enrolling for this program i.e. candidates can pay their fee in a small amount of INR 7,000.

Also Read: IGNOU Assignment

IGNOU MA Rural Development Admission Process 2025

Applicants can apply for the MA Rural Development Program through both online modes by just sitting comfortably at home with the help of a laptop. They just need to access the official website of IGNOU @ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

Also candidates can apply offline by visiting the regional centre. There they have to submit the hard copy of application form, documents and the fee. 

For the convenience of the candidates we have mentioned the steps for admission through online mode:- 

Steps for the IGNOU MA Rural Development Admission 2025

NOTE:- DEB ID is mandatory for submission of application. Please create your DEB ID before starting the application process.

• For registration access the official portal of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)  i.e. @ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.
• Now, register yourself by clicking on “Click here for New Registration” on the left side of the home screen and fill in all the details like username, password, Email, Mobile Number, and captcha.
• After registration, log in by clicking on “Registered User Login” on the right side of the home page and again enter the Username, Password, and Captcha and upload all the documents carefully.  
• Also, review the application form before submitting it to avoid any inconvenience at the time of admission and submit. 
• Pay the fees via credit card, debit card, and Internet banking.  
• Now, you will receive a mail on your registered mail ID confirming the successful submission of the application form from the University. 
• Also, candidates can apply for the scholarship at scholarships.gov.in just after getting the confirmation of admission.
• Also, save a screenshot of the payment for the proof.

Documents required for the admission process

• A scanned copy of the educational qualification of the candidate(mark sheet)
• Category certificate of the candidate (if applicable)
• A recent passport-size photo of the applicant 
• A scanned signature of the students
• A valid address and ID proof of the candidate
• Work experience certificate of the candidate (if necessary)

For detailed instructions or steps, a candidate can also take the help of videos available on YouTube in Hindi and English languages. The links for the YouTube is:-

• https://youtu.be/T1ZNABFPm7Y (Hindi)
• https://youtu.be/URiAvPkyffs (English)

IGNOU MA Rural Development Syllabus 

Future Options and Career Scopes After IGNOU MA Rural Development

After the completion of MA Rural Development a question haunts the student: what is the scope of this course? Or what they can do after this course. So after the completion of this course, a candidate can get many job opportunities in the private or public sector.

Also, a candidate can work as a Government Liaison Officer, Rural Development Officer, NGO Worker, Community Development Specialist, Agricultural Extension Officer, Rural Health Worker, Social Worker, Policy Analyst, Researcher, Project Manager, Rural Education Specialist, Entrepreneur, and Rural Planner.

There are many educational qualifications which can be pursued after the MA Rural Development like MA in Social Work, MBA in Rural Management, MA in Development Studies, MA in Sustainable Development, MPhil in Rural Development, MA in Public Administration, MA in Sociology, and more. Also a learner can pursue his PHd in Rural Development.

Important Details:

• • Programme Coordinator: Mr. Buta Singh
  • Email: butasingh@ignou.ac.in
  • Phone Number: 01129573066

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to IGNOU MA Rural Development

Question: Is rural development a good career?

Answer: Rural management is a rapidly growing field, with a growing demand for skilled professionals who can address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

Question: What is the scope of MA in rural development?

Answer: A candidate can pursue his career as Government Liaison Officer, Rural Development Officer, NGO Worker, Community Development Specialist, after completing their Masters in Rural Development.

Question: Who is eligible for an MA in rural development?

Answer: Candidates with bachelor or higher degree from any UGC approved University can enroll for MA in rural development in IGNOU.

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