Scholarship
Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme(PMRDFS)
Overview
About PMRDFS
The Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows Scheme (PMRDFS) is a fellowship run by the Ministry of Rural Development, through its Department of Rural Development, Government of India. It is delivered in partnership with State Governments, with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) as its knowledge partner, handling recruitment, orientation and on-field mentorship of the fellows.
The scheme places young professionals inside the district administration of backward districts, giving the collector and the local team short-term catalytic support to improve how development and welfare programmes reach rural households. Alongside that field role, it sets out to build a longer-standing cadre of development facilitators. Because a fellow earns a stipend together with structured learning and hands-on experience rather than a single cash grant, the benefit is classed as composite.
It is aimed at graduates who want to work at the front line of rural development rather than at students seeking support during a course. People apply as individuals and are chosen through a national selection process, with relaxations built in for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates. A fellowship runs for up to two years, so it suits those willing to be posted to a remote or under-served district for that period.
Sources: Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows Scheme (PMRDFS), myScheme (Government of India) · Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellowship Programme, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) · Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellowship, IndiaFilings
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Rural Development
Central Government
Department of Rural Development
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Agriculture,Rural & Environment, Skills & Employment |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | Composite |
| Application mode | Offline |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The applicant should be a citizen of India. | |
| The applicant's age must be between 22 years and 27 years at the time of application. | |
| The applicant must hold at least a graduate degree from a recognized University with a four-year degree course. | |
| The applicant must hold a post-graduate degree from a recognized University in case the graduate degree course duration was less than four years. | |
| The applicant's one-year post graduate course will also be considered valid for eligibility if it is regular, full time, and if 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% marks in the aggregate or equivalent grade at the graduate or Post-graduate level, whichever is qualifying. | |
| The applicant must possess physical fitness, certified by Government Medical Hospital, for the arduous nature of the work. | |
| The maximum age limit will be 32 years for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe category. | |
| _Fifteen percent (15%) of seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes._ | |
| _Fifteen percent (15%) of seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes._ |
Who cannot apply
Exclusions
- 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.
What you get
Award & benefits
- The Fellow shall be entitled to a consolidated stipend package of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty thousand only) per month during the orientation period.
- The Fellow shall be entitled to ₹75,000/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) per month during the first year of the Fellowship (post-orientation).
- The Fellow shall receive a 10% increment during the second year, subject to satisfactory performance.
- This package is deemed to cover the Fellow’s honorarium, boarding and lodging expenses during orientation, accommodation/house rent during the rest of the Fellowship period, health insurance, life and disability insurance cover, and any other contingency expenses.
- Travel reimbursement will be based on actual costs and restricted to AC-II tier train fare by the shortest route or equivalent, plus local transport cost. Women Fellows with children below five years are allowed the travel cost of a care-giver if the care-giver accompanies the Fellow with her child.
- Participation in a post graduate degree programme through distance learning and contact sessions leading to a post graduate degree in Development Practice.
- Award of a Fellowship Certificate and an appropriate post graduate degree in Development Practice upon satisfactory completion of engagement and course requirements.
- Office facilities made available by the District Collector, including suitable space, a computer/laptop, and internet connectivity free of charge.
- Provision of suitable modes of transport by District administration while travelling within the district for regular work.
- Disbursement of Stipend
- During the orientation programme, the stipend shall be paid by the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society through the Programme Mentor.
- Post-placement, the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society shall pay the monthly stipend to the Fellows by providing budgetary support to the State Rural Livelihood Mission society.
- The State Rural Livelihood Mission society shall make direct deposits into the bank account of each Fellow immediately upon confirming the attendance of the Fellow from the District Collector at the end of the month.
- The second-year increment is subject to the Fellow’s satisfactory performance as determined by the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society in consultation with the Programme Mentor.
- _It is mandatory for the Fellows to purchase suitable health insurance and life and disability insurance coverage for the entire duration of the Fellowship, including the orientation period._
- _The Fellow shall not take up any type of employment with any other person, firm, or agency during the tenure of the Fellowship._
- _On successful completion of Fellowship, the Fellow is required to spend at least one year in public service as a paid full-time employee of the State Rural Livelihood Mission in the State she/he is assigned to._
- _Failure to join or complete the required one year of public service mandates the Fellow to return to the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society the entire amount spent on academic programmes during the Fellowship (including orientation), plus an amount equivalent to the stipend of the last three months of the Fellowship period as compensation._
What to prepare
Documents required
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply offline
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
PMRDFS – FAQ
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.