RDO is a state government officer responsible for rural development. Find more about the career path, salary, eligibility, and is the most sought research studies.
For ensuring rural sustainability among the Indian villages, the government appoints Rural Development Officers (RDO) whose primary responsibility is to help and implement the rural development projects that are useful in developing the rural population. If an individual is concerned with the economic condition of India and has an interest in helping the rural population of India, then the RDO role is the right position. Study in rural development & management has become one of the most sought courses to study and research at the postgraduate level.
What is Rural development?
Villages are the backbone of India, without which India cannot function. The rural population in India was reported at 65.97 % in 2018. The social and economic reconstruction of India’s rural communities is being implemented through the establishment of cooperative societies and community development plans. Thus rural India has been developing at a slow pace, but for sure developing, it’s much better than standing stagnant.
RDO is a comprehensive term, and the full form is Rural Development Officer (RDO). Rural development focuses on the action for the development of areas outside the mainstream urban economic system. Rural development is the process wherein the quality of life is improved, and the economic well-being of the people living in rural areas are improved.
There are two types of RDO. It includes,
- Programme Officer: A Programme Officer is primarily responsible for developing indicators like preparing manuals, guidelines on rural developments of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
- Agricultural Officer: The officer’s responsibilities include agricultural practices with state and local rules and regulations.
Job Profile of Rural Development Officer
A rural development officer is appointed for the post under the state government. They are assigned as the village/area supervisor after the final selection process through Public Commission Service (PCS) examination.
The rural development officer looks after all the developments in rural areas. It is their responsibility to foresee the development in the areas assigned to them. An RDO has to look into the development, planning and include various acts as a regulatory body.
Below are the key job roles and responsibilities of a Rural Development Officer (RDO).
- An RDO has the authority to advise the district administration for development initiatives.
- Takes steps to remove any irregularity pointed out by the auditors about Panchayat Samiti accounts. They check and complete the paperwork of projects undertaken.
- A rural development officer has to coordinate and cooperate with the grama panchayat and various other regulatory bodies in charge.
- They create plans and handle obstacles associated with project management. The RDO is also responsible for the financial literacy centres (FLC).
- They also see that the construction programs undertaken by the panchayat conform to the standards laid down and completed within the scheduled time.
- They also help to develop the infrastructures in the rural area they are assigned.
- They also have to develop infrastructure and coordinate with community-level organizations for development initiatives and consultancy services.
A rural development officer is implementing government activities in rural areas. Another role of the rural development officer is to interact with the villagers, understand their problems, solve them, and even determine the root cause of the problem. For example, water and sanitation-related issues.
Rural Development Officer Eligibility Criteria
Any graduate can apply for the post of becoming a rural development officer. There are no strict eligibility criteria, but few criteria can be an advantage to the selection process.
Below are the Rural Development Officer eligibility criteria and selection process7.
- The candidate to apply for a post of rural development has to take up the public service commission examination of the concerned state. Only upon passing they can become a rural development officer.
- The age limit for the post is 21 years to 37 years. And this may vary for some of the reserved categories.
Career Path of Rural Development Officer
Once an aspirant has cleared the public service commission exam, the next step is to attend a personal interview. Only those who clear both these rounds are selected and appointed as rural development officers in an area assigned to them. Once individuals have gained years of experience, they may be promoted to block development officers (BDO).
A block development officer carries various roles and has a lot of power and authority in their post. These include drawing and disbursing the money out of the Panchayat Samiti Fund for developmental activities and removing any irregularity pointed out by the auditors about Panchayat Samiti accounts.
Below are some of the career/promotion levels of RDO.
- Level 1: Block Development Officer (BDO)
- Level 2: The second level of promotions can be any of the following.
- Assistant Project Officer (APO)
- Assistant Director
- Assistant Commissioner Development Officer
- Assistant District Development Officer
- Level 3: The third level of promotions, i.e., Individual promotions, can be any of the following.
- Deputy Director
- District Development Officer
- Project Officer and Director (Account administration, National Employment Programme)
- Chief Executive Officer
- Level 4: RDO professionals senior-level promotions are,
- Deputy Development Commissioner
- Joint Director
- Commissionaire Development Officer
Salary for Rural Development Officer
The starting salary of a rural development officer is around INR 20,200; the individual will receive a pay grade. The salary is defined under the pay commission (namely the 7th pay commission) set up by the Indian government.
Tabulated below are the salary of rural development officer .
| Career Path | Payscale (Per Month) |
| Rural Development Officer (RDO) | INR 20,200 |
| Block Development Officer (BDO) |
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Skills Required for Rural Development Officer
Rural Development Officers should have a friendly attitude to communicate with people in rural areas and interact. They should be able to handle masses as village areas are quite populated as well.
Below are the few key skills required in an RDO.
- The ability to handle pressure is a necessary skill.
- Leadership skills are required to give orders and communicate well with a team and subordinates.
- They should have attention to detail as a minor mistake can be dangerous.
- They must be a motivator and a team builder.
- RDO should have good organizational skills, as well.
- They must also be able to drive (have a driving license).
- They must have excellent ICT skills as well (information communication and technology skills).
Pros of Becoming a Rural Development Officer (RDO)
Rural Development Officer (RDO) is a government job that comes with job security and other benefits.
The following are the pros of becoming a rural development officer.
- Having a government job is very prestigious, especially after promoting the Block Development Officer (BDO) in a few years.
- After years of experience, they may get promoted to a Block Development Officer (BDO) with high responsibility and payscale.
Cons of Becoming a Rural Development Officer (RDO)
Every job has its advantages and disadvantages; the basic cons of the rural development officer include some factors.
Below are some of the cons of becoming an RDO.
- The location of the job is situated in a rural area.
- A field job can also involve the individual travelling a lot.
- The starting pay scale is less.
Top Colleges in India for RDO
Various colleges offer courses to become an RDO once they finish the entrance and the interview exams. Some of these institutions provide the best coaching to aspiring candidates.
Here are some of the top colleges for pursuing a rural development officer.
- Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat
- Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala
- University of Hyderabad (UOH), Hyderabad
- Loyola College, Chennai
- Nehru Gram Bharti University
- Indira Gandhi National Open University
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar
- Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
- Punjabi University (PU), Patiala
- Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune
- Xavier Institute of Social Service, Jharkhand
Books to Refer for RDO
The basic eligibility criteria for becoming an RDO is to clear the primary entrance examination. There are various reference books available from the top authors and subject experts.
The following are the books to pursue a career as a Rural Development Officer (RDO).
- DSRVS Practice Test
- Rural Development - Principles, Policies, and Management by Singh Katar Singh
- Rural Development by Mudgal Rahul
- Rural Development In India by K.R Gupta
