Fundamentals of Rural Development is a concise yet thorough text which strives to impart a good comprehension of rural development (RD) in India. It presents the theories of RD, structure of rural economy, policy instruments, and strategies in poverty alleviation globally, planning issues and programs for implementation, institutional and organizational roles and involvement, and the overall management of rural development. In particular, it emphasizes the pivotal role of human resources as both a means and an end of development.