Sarkari Yojana
Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme
About Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme
Run by the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the “Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme” gives young women and men with academic or professional expertise a short-term opportunity to strengthen district administration, improve programme delivery, and engage with marginalized populations, thereby narrowing developmental and governance gaps. Fellows get structured learning and hands-on professional experience in rural development and poverty reduction, acting as Development Facilitators who assist District Administration — particularly in backward districts — while pursuing a post-graduate degree in Development Practice through distance learning and contact sessions.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Rural Development
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
The applicant should hold Indian citizenship
The applicant should hold Indian citizenship.
The applicant's age must fall between 22 years…
The applicant's age must fall between 22 years and 27 years at the time of application.
The applicant must hold at least a graduate…
The applicant must hold at least a graduate degree from a recognized University with a four-year degree course.
Where the graduate degree course ran for less…
Where the graduate degree course ran for less than four years, the applicant must additionally hold a post-graduate degree from a recognized University.
The applicant's one-year post graduate course also counts…
The applicant's one-year post graduate course also counts toward eligibility if it is regular, full time, and the degree/equivalent diploma is recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education/Medical Council of India/University Grants Commission.
The applicant must have achieved at least 50%…
The applicant must have achieved at least 50% marks in aggregate, or an equivalent grade, at the graduate or Post-graduate level, whichever is the qualifying degree.
The applicant must be certified physically fit by…
The applicant must be certified physically fit by a Government Medical Hospital, given the arduous nature of the work.
For candidates in the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe category,…
For candidates in the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe category, the maximum age limit extends to 32 years. Other Conditions Fifteen percent (15%) of seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Fifteen percent (15%) of seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Benefits Provided
Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Stipend Package
During the orientation period, the Fellow receives a…
During the orientation period, the Fellow receives a consolidated stipend package of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty thousand only) per month.
From the first year of the Fellowship onward…
From the first year of the Fellowship onward (post-orientation), the Fellow is paid ₹75,000/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) per month.
In the second year, the Fellow gets a…
In the second year, the Fellow gets a 10% increment, provided performance has been satisfactory.
This package is meant to cover the Fellow's…
This package is meant to cover the Fellow's honorarium, boarding and lodging costs during orientation, accommodation/house rent for the remaining Fellowship period, health insurance, life and disability insurance cover, and other incidental expenses.
Travel is reimbursed at actual cost, capped at…
Travel is reimbursed at actual cost, capped at AC-II tier train fare via the shortest route (or its equivalent), plus local transport charges. A Woman Fellow with a child below five years may also claim the travel cost of a caregiver accompanying her and the child. Other Benefits
The Fellow can enrol in a post graduate…
The Fellow can enrol in a post graduate degree programme in Development Practice delivered through distance learning combined with contact sessions.
On satisfactorily completing the engagement and course requirements,…
On satisfactorily completing the engagement and course requirements, the Fellow is awarded a Fellowship Certificate along with the relevant post graduate degree in Development Practice.
The District Collector provides office facilities, including adequate…
The District Collector provides office facilities, including adequate space, a computer/laptop, and free internet connectivity.
The District administration arranges suitable transport for the…
The District administration arranges suitable transport for the Fellow's travel within the district for regular work. Disbursement of Stipend
The National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society pays the…
The National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society pays the stipend through the Programme Mentor during the orientation programme.
After placement, the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society…
After placement, the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society provides budgetary support to the State Rural Livelihood Mission society, which then pays the Fellows' monthly stipend.
Once the District Collector confirms the Fellow's attendance…
Once the District Collector confirms the Fellow's attendance for the month, the State Rural Livelihood Mission society deposits the amount directly into the Fellow's bank account.
Whether the second-year increment is granted depends on…
Whether the second-year increment is granted depends on the Fellow's satisfactory performance, as assessed by the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society in consultation with the Programme Mentor. Conditions Fellows are required to buy adequate health, life, and disability insurance cover for the entire Fellowship duration, including the orientation period. During the Fellowship tenure, the Fellow may not take up employment of any kind with any other person, firm, or agency. After completing the Fellowship, the Fellow must spend at least one year in public service as a paid full-time employee of the State Rural Livelihood Mission in the assigned State. If the Fellow fails to join or complete this required year of public service, they must repay the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society the full amount spent on academic programmes during the Fellowship (including orientation), plus a sum equal to the stipend for the last three months of the Fellowship as compensation.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
A document establishing Proof of Citizenship
A document establishing Proof of Citizenship.
A document establishing Proof of Age
A document establishing Proof of Age.
Educational Qualification Certificates/Degree Certificates covering Graduate/Post-Graduate degrees
Educational Qualification Certificates/Degree Certificates covering Graduate/Post-Graduate degrees.
Academic Mark Sheets/Transcripts that substantiate a minimum of…
Academic Mark Sheets/Transcripts that substantiate a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
A Caste Certificate, where applicable
A Caste Certificate, where applicable.
A Medical Certificate confirming physical fitness for the…
A Medical Certificate confirming physical fitness for the arduous nature of the work, certified by a Government Medical Hospital. During Joining
An Agreement accepting the terms and conditions of…
An Agreement accepting the terms and conditions of the Fellowship contract with the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society.
A Guarantor's Undertaking (Annexure-2)
A Guarantor's Undertaking (Annexure-2).
Optional/Supporting Documentation, covering
Optional/Supporting Documentation, covering:
Documentary proof of work experience in related fields…
Documentary proof of work experience in related fields (optional).
Certificates of excellence in extra-curricular activities (optional)
Certificates of excellence in extra-curricular activities (optional).
Documentation of any leadership role held (optional)
Documentation of any leadership role held (optional).
How to Apply
Offline Application
Applicants can apply for Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme through the offline application process outlined below.
Public Advertisement and Accessing Application Format The Central…
Public Advertisement and Accessing Application Format The Central Government invites applications for selecting Fellows through public advertisements. Interested applicants must access and obtain the application format notified by the Central Government for submission.
Submission of Application and Shortlisting Applicants must submit…
Submission of Application and Shortlisting Applicants must submit their completed application form following the format and guidelines specified in the public advertisement. Candidates who meet the initial requirements get shortlisted for the subsequent phases of the selection process.
Assessment and Selection Testing Shortlisted candidates go through…
Assessment and Selection Testing Shortlisted candidates go through appropriate testing methods designed to gauge their motivation, leadership capabilities, professional skills, and pro-poor orientation. Final selection rests on this overall assessment process.
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
The applicant, who has been provisionally selected in the final result sheet for Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship in an earlier stint, will not be allowed to avail the fellowship if he/she did not complete the full term of that prior Fellowship.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.