Rural Development: Principles, Policies and Management, Third Edition, has been revised and repackaged as a comprehensive textbook on Rural Development and Planning. This book is primarily targeted at graduate and post-graduate students of Rural Development, Agricultural Policy and Planning and Rural Management. New chapters have been added, keeping in mind the curricula taught in most colleges, academic institutes, and universities in India. The updated content also takes into account training programmes in Rural Development, Rural Economics, Rural Management, Agricultural Policy and Planning

The book focuses on the basic concepts, policy instruments, strategies, policies and programmes, and the management of rural development. In particular, it emphasises the pivotal role of human resources as both a means and an end of development. Recent developments and progress of rural development programmes like equity and growth-oriented programmes and natural resources and infrastructure programmes have been well-documented and analysed. Some new pedagogical features introduced in the book include:

- `Learning Outcomes` at the beginning of each chapter

- Two new sections, namely, ‘Main Points’, and ‘Questions for Discussion’ at the end of each chapter

Aspirants of competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions and the admission tests conducted by academic institutes offering post-graduate programmes in Rural Management and Agri-business Management will also find this book useful. The book will also be of much interest to governmental and non-governmental organisations including donors and other funding agencies engaged in rural development.