PMRDF Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows Scheme

PMRD Fellows Scheme is an initiative of Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with State Governments. The Fellowship has the twin objective of engaging young professionals to work with District Collectors in improving the development programmes as well as to build them as a cadre of development facilitators, who will be available as a ready resource for rural development activities over a long term.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), as a partner of MoRD is requested to facilitate and anchor the selection and training of the PMRD Fellows.

PMRD Fellowship is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) where in the focus is to reduce poverty and improve the lives of people in rural India. PMRD Fellowship is being implemented in collaboration with State Governments. During the two-year duration of the Fellowship, PMRD Fellows will work closely with District Magistrates of backward and remote districts in improving programme delivery and interface with marginalized sections, aiming to reduce the developmental and governance deficits.

Fellows will also participate in a post graduate degree programme through e-enabled distance learning and contact sessions leading to M.Sc/M.Phil in Development Practice, to be conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Immediately after successful completion of the two year fellowship, a PMRD Fellow is required to spend 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. It is expected that by their work in the field as well as through their participation in the academic programme, PMRD Fellows will enhance their capacity in programme implementation, gain field experience, acquire professional knowledge in development practice and become capable development leaders and facilitators - a much needed resource for ensuring equitable growth in India.

Thus the PMRD Fellowship has the twin objective of providing short term catalytic support to the district administration in remote districts to improve programme delivery as well as to develop a cadre of committed and competent development leaders and facilitators, who are available as a resource for rural development over the long term.

PMRDF will function as development facilitators, and will engage in the following activities:

• Work with institutions of the poor to build their capacity and help them access their rights and entitlements.
• Facilitate capacity building in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and in institutions of local democracy, like panchayats.
• Conduct socio-economic analysis of the local areas at Block level and contribute in ascertaining the felt needs of the people.
• Help the district administration in local area planning.
• Assist in better implementation of poverty alleviation programmes, particularly MGNREGA, NRLM, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, NBA, IWMP, NSAP, IAP, ICDS, NRHM SSA/RMSA etc.
• Undertake action-research to discover more appropriate ways of programme delivery by the district administration
• Design and implement innovative projects.
• Provide feedback on rural development initiatives.

The job requires PMRDF to have a strong commitment to the values of equity & social justice & a passion for making a difference in the lives of the people.

Message from Minister of Rural Development

A year has passed since the first batch of Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows were recruited

and joined work. The primary objective of Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship (PMRDF)

Scheme was to provide catalytic support to the administration of backward and remote districts in

improving programme delivery and relationship with the marginalized section of the population. We got

over 10,000 applications and selected 156 fellows through a rigorous selection process. Young and bright

women and men with the urge to work with the poor were recruited, trained and placed in these districts

that have a large ‘development deficit’.

I have remained personally in touch with the State Governments as well as with the Fellows and am

enthused by the results so far. All the concerned States accepted the Scheme without hesitation and the

Fellows were warmly welcomed. We have had little attrition. My field visits, interactions with the various

concerned persons, media reports, reflective self profiles of the Fellows in our blog and the Facebook

narrations tell me that the Fellows are working hard on their assignments, even if the outcomes are yet

to be fully manifest. In my travels to these districts I often meet them and am impressed by their

commitment and passion.

Helping the poor get their place in the society and development of the underdeveloped regions remains a

major challenge before us. The task is much more complex than is commonly understood. It calls for a

high degree of professionalization of our development interventions and a great sense of empathy while

dealing with the underprivileged. We have an acute scarcity of professional human resources in the

districts and for working with the poor. This is more so in the underdeveloped regions of our country.

We need to expand the pool professional human resources to confront the challenge of poverty head-on.

PMRDF is an experiment to address this challenge.

I am very happy that we are now going to recruit the second batch of Fellows. I hope through this

recruitment process, we shall get yet another batch of the best of our young professionals who would

spare no efforts helping the district administration reach out to the poor with efficiency and

effectiveness.

This section provides important details for applying to the PMRD Fellows Scheme 2014.

Applications are sought through an open advertisement across the country. All candidates fulfilling the criteria shall appear for an online test scheduled on Sunday, 15th December 2013 from any of the 40 centres across the country. Those wishing to apply should fill an online form with an application processing fee of Rs. 750. Candidates from SC and ST categories with income below the level stipulated by the GoI are required to pay Rs. 250.

Eligibility CriteriaThe eligibility criteria for selection as a PMRD Fellow shall be the following:

Essential criteria 

• Age between 22-27 years at the time of application. For candidates belonging to SC/ST category, the maximum age limit will be 32 years.
• At the minimum a graduate from a recognized university/institute with a four-year degree course, including those like Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Engineering, Law, Medicine etc., or a post-graduate from a recognized University/ Institute (in case of a graduate holding degree of a course duration of three years or less). Those with degree from universities outside India that are recognised by Association of Indian Universities can also apply. Only those candidates who have completed all requirements and received degree are eligible to apply.
• At least 50% marks in the aggregate at the graduate or Post-graduate level, whichever is qualifying. While entering details of marks in the online application form, candidates having scores as grade points should convert them to corresponding percentages by referring to the conversion table provided by their college/ university.
• Physical fitness, certified by Government Medical Hospital due to the arduous nature of work involved.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of local language and customs. 
• Work experience in related fields. 
• Excellence in extra-curricular activities like art, culture, sports etc. at High School/College level. 
• Leadership role in College/ High School/ Work Plac

Reservation:
15% seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 15% for Scheduled Tribes
• .

Application Process

• Candidates are not required submit mark sheets, degree certificates, reference letters and fitness certificate along with the application.
• Only those candidates finally selected are required to submit mark sheets and degree certificates. The Selection Committee reserves the right to seek additional information from persons listed as references, employers, etc.
• Fill the application and submit it online. The applicant will receive an acknowledgement of its receipt. All information asked for must be provided. Make sure to review the application for its completeness. Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected. Those giving wrong information in the online application form but get through AICAT will be rejected at the time of verification before final selection. Anyone found to have given wrong information and false certificates are liable for immediate dismissal and penal action at any stage of selection process or fellowship.
• Refer to the list on the left, for location of assessment centres.

Three stage assessment process includes:

• All India Competency Assessment Test (AICAT) (Online): 28th December 2013
  AICAT is an assessment of their understanding and orientation, and problem-solving abilities in a positive manner. Applicants will be shortlisted based on their performance in the AICAT.
• Written Test (Issue based): 16th January 2014
• Personal Interview: 16th & 17th of January 2014
  Shortlisted candidates will be tested using tools like essay writing & interview to ascertain their motivation, leadership, professional skills and pro-poor orientation.

Selection/ Assessment Criteria

Merit list will be prepared on the basis of weighted performance in All India Competency Assessment Test, final round written test, and Personal Interview. Final Merit List will be based on weighted total score in three assessment instruments

Assessment Instrument	Marks	Weightage
I] All India Competency Assessment Test (AICAT) online. Based on AICAT cut-off specific to GN, SC, ST groups, 1000 candidates will be called for next stage of selection:	100	0.5
Final assessment stage
II] Written Test (Issue/ Social and economic issue based)	40	0.2
III] Personal Interview	60	0.3
Total Marks	200	1.0