Research and Training Division (RTD)
The Research and Training Division (RTD) of NIRD is a nerve center for all the academic activities of the institute and it coordinates with different Centres of the Institute, with a view to achieving excellence in Training, Research, Consultancy and Action Research.
TRAINING
RTD coordinates all the training programmes conducted by different Centres, both at the headquarters and at the regional centers of the Institute, functioning at Guwahati, Patna and Jaipur. The RTD facilitates the processes, for ensuring high quality training out put apart from organizing workshops, seminars and Conferences etc. The RTD is the nodal agency for bringing out annual Training and Research Calendar of the Institute, based on which various programmes both training and research are conducted by different Centres at NIRD and by the Regional Centres. Another important work activity of the RTD is facilitate review of the training and research activities of the Institute, for which review meetings will be conducted under the chairmanship of the DDG and Director General, at periodic intervals. The feed back received from out of the review meetings will help in enriching the quality and content of the training and research programmes, prepare appraisal reports for submission to the Executive Council and the General Council, which are the management committees of the Institute and sending periodic report to the Ministry of Rural Development, highlighting the targets, achievement and notable events carried out by the Institute. As a part of NIRD's mandate, RTD collects and scrutinizes the requests of the various State Institutes of Rural Developments (SIRDs) and help in organizing Regional Training Programmes by the faculty members of the Institute. To build the capacities of faculty members, RTD coordinates the Faculty Development Scheme (FDS), through which, the faculties are deputed to undergo training at various premier training institutes within the country and abroad. RTD initiates several measures for strengthening the inter-institutional collaborations with Organizations and Institutions involved in Rural Development and in this process, it coordinates the training and related activities with the institutions such as ITEC/SCAAP, ClRDAP, AARDO, SAARC, Indo-Africa Action Plan etc. RTD also coordinates the consultancy training programmes, sponsored by Central and State , Governments and also other organizations from out-side the country. The RTD also coordinates the work of conduct of training programmes by other organizations at  NIRD, as venue programmes, for which the expertise and infrastructure facilities of the Institute are available, on payment of costs, as per standard norms.
RESEARCH
One of the important work activity of the NIRD is research and action research. The RTD, as the nodal agency, prepares the annual research agenda for NIRD, keeping in view the shifts in development paradigms, etc. The major themes for NIRD research include: poverty reduction and rural employment, environment and sustainable development, decentralization and good governance and transfer of technology. It lays special emphasis on livelihoods of core poverty groups and empowerment of dcllts and women. RTD formulates research guidelines and invites research proposals and. also coordinates several formal and informal meetings for finalization of research proposals of the NIRD Centres and SIRDs, which are its link institutes. It enables the management to review the progress of various research studies periodically for qualitative and timely completion of research projects. The RTD brings out a publication on Research Highlights, which is an annual feature, which comprise of the gist of the research findings. NIRD has been actively involved in Action Research in a partnership mode to examine the scope for evolving simple and effective approaches to some of the development issues. In this context, RTD facilitate in formulization of guidelines for processing of action research proposals and monitors the progress of action research projects. It organizes special Lectures, on the action research themes and also coordinates the workshops relating to the action research projects.
NETWORKING
As a part of the 'mandate' to strengthen the Rural Development Institutional Network, the RTD provides guidance and financial support to SIRDsfor undertaking research studies on themes relevant to the Flagship programme of the MoRD/MoPR and the respective State Governments. Another important work activity of RTD is to organizes the Annual National Colloquium, with State Secretaries in charge of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Heads of State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs), which is an important forum for sharing the experiences and assist the State RD Training Institutions for conduct of training programmes for RD & PR functionaries, including the elected representatives of PRls, more effectively. The RTD also organize the National Colloquium with the Extension Training Centres (ETCs), which are sub-State level institutions for conducting of training programmes at Block and GP level and are functioning in different States. NIRD has been mandated by Ministry of Rural Development to assist in administering of central scheme for capacity building of State RD Training Institutions, under which the RTD invites the Non-Recurring Grant Proposals from the SIRDs and ETCs, for sanction of funding support for infrastructure development, procurement of teaching aids, office equipment and furniture, etc. and scrutinizes the proposals with reference to guidelines governing the central scheme and with the approval of the competent authority, make SIRD and ETC - wise recommendations to the Ministry of Rural Development, to facilitate sanction of grants. The RTD also monitors the implementation of the scheme and also utilization of the grants sanctioned by MoRD to the SIRDs and ETCs. The RTD also coordinate the Scheme of State Link Officer (SLO), under which, faculty members of NIRD are nominated to different States, SIRDs and ETCs. The scheme is aimed to building up networking and establish liaison in the context of effective conduct of training and research programmes for the benefit of RD & PR functionaries, including the elected representatives of PRls. The RTD also coordinate and organize the visits of dignitaries, esteemed guests and delegates from India and abroad, which visit NIRD.
CONSULTANCY
Action Research is one of the important work activities of the Institute. The RTD encourages and scouts for relevant consultancy projects. It also convenes the meetings of the Consultancy Core Group of NIRD, constituted under the chairmanship of the Director General, for examining the requests received from outside agencies and facilitates
in decision making with respect to consultancy research and training assignments. It coordinates the State Link Officer (SLO) Scheme of NIRD which is designed to strengthen the links between NIRD-States-SIRDs-ETCs.
FUNCTIONING OF RTD
The Research and Training Division function, under the over all guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director General and the Director General of the Institute .The RTD is headed by Dr Dayanand Bidari, Professor & Head. Dr P C Sikligar, Associate Professor, Dr G Rajanikanth, Senior Assistant Professor and Shri P Janardana Rao, Programme Officer, assist Dr Dayanand Bidari, in matters relating to Training, Research and SIRD&ETC related matters, respectively. The team is supported by a small group of secretarial staff.