Admission Process:
The minimum qualification for admission to the programme is Graduation in any discipline from any recognised University. Those who are in the final year and expect to complete all the requirements of graduation.
In-service Candidates
Some seats are earmarked for the in-service candidates who fulfil the following conditions for admission:
1. Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University.
2. Should have worked in the Rural Development and allied sector with the sponsoring agency for at least two years continuously as a ‘permanent / regular employee’.
3. Should attach a certificate along with the application form from their employer stating that they will be sponsored, if selected.
4. The sponsoring agency should be willing to grant uninterrupted leave to the candidate (if selected) for the period of study.
5. In-service Indian candidates are required to appear for the Entrance Test along with the general students. However, a separate merit list will be prepared for them for admissions.
Reservation: Reservations for the SC, ST, OBC and Persons with Disability (PWD) will be made as per Government of India’s policies.
Selection-(Indian candidates)
All eligible candidates should appear for the Entrance Test (off-line paper-pencil test) that will comprise: English Comprehension and essay writing / Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Reasoning and Analytical Skills. The Entrance Test will be of about two and half hours duration. The number of questions may range between 90 and 120 besides an essay in English. The test will be conducted at Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Kohima, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Pune, Rajkot, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Siliguri, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Udaipur and Visakhapatanam. The Test Centres are subject to change depending on the availability of a minimum number of candidates. Candidates selected on the basis of the Entrance Test will be invited for Group Discussion and Personal Interview in some major cities. No TA / DA will be paid for any candidate for attending the test or group discussion and personal interview. The in-service candidates are required to apply through their employers. They may however, send an advance application. The in-service candidates are also required to appear for the entrance test. However, a separate merit list will be prepared for their selection.
Selection – (Foreign candidates)
The international candidates should apply through the secretariats of the respective regional organisations viz., AARDO, CIRDAP etc., organisational sponsorship for all the in-service candidates is essential. They may however, send an advance application. In-service Indian candidates are required to appear for the Entrance Test along with the general students. The eligibility parameters for international students are placed on the NIRD’s website.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Merit and need based scholarships will be made available to deserving Indian students. The North Eastern Council, Shillong, has fully funded the North Eastern students selected for the PGDRDM in the past. Similar financial support to the admitted students domiciled in the North Eastern region is likely for the current year as well. Study loans will also be facilitated by the NIRD for the needy Indian students.