Akash Shrivastava, PGP-DM Batch of 2018-19 holds an MSW from IEHE, Bhopal. Before joining ISDM he worked as a Program Associate at Samarthan-Centre for Development Support. Post his PGP-DM from ISDM he worked with multiple organisations and is now Manager-Inclusive Finance, at Access Development Services. Listen to him as he shares his unique experience and the impact ISDM had on his career
ISDM’s Post Graduate Program in Development Management is a unique management program specifically designed for application in the social development sector. It blends concepts, ideas and practices of development with management theories, combining in-class sessions with collaborative group work and an on-field component.
The PGP-DM aims to develop a cadre of Management Professionals, specifically for Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs), who can grapple with the complex context of social change and design interventions, to build, lead and manage organizations for sustainable social impact at scale.
- 22 Development Management core & elective courses and 10 workshops
- The only institute to use ‘bricoleuring’ in its pedagogy
- A foundation-building orientation-cum-induction term
- Access to the world’s best journals and other digital resources
- Plenaries, Hot Conversations and CEO Talks
- Personal Mastery for Development Leadership
- 2-week immersive field component called Realizing India
- Unique Context-Based Collaborative Learning (CBCL) pedagogy
- 12 Harvard ManageMentor Courses covering Management topics
- Live Interactions with Eminent Speakers
- Specially curated Workshops
- Development Management Writing Centre along with the course ‘Writing in the Discipline’
- Mix of Courses in Development Management
- Special Capstone Project on Scale and Sustainability
As a Development Manager, you will be able to understand complex social issues and design interventions, and lead, manage and build sustainable organizations, with cultures and values for socially relevant teams, to create sustained and scalable impact.
Graduates from any stream, whether working professionals or freshers (with minimum of 60% marks in 10th and 12th boards), who are interested in pursuing a career and creating an impact in the social sector should apply for our PGP-DM program.
The minimum eligibility criteria for applying is an undergraduate degree in any discipline. This includes recent graduates, working professionals, as well as students in their final year (completing their Bachelor’s programs within July 2025).
No, it is not mandatory to have previous professional experience to be eligible to apply. However, it is recommended that you have some amount of professional or volunteering experience, as it gives you an edge for selection.
No. The PGP-DM is a full-time on-campus program, and cannot be pursued online, or while working. Given the rigorous and highly collaborative nature of the program, all students are required to attend classes in person, at all times.
ISDM'S fully online admissions process has 4 simple stages:
Step 1 - Application Submission
Step 2 - Online Assessment
Step 3 - Personal Interview
Step 4 - Offer Roll Out
Step 2 - Online Assessment
Step 3 - Personal Interview
Step 4 - Offer Roll Out
Applications for the Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP-DM) for the batch of 2025-26 opening soon. If you're interested in applying for the upcoming batch, please register your interest here
.Due to the limited number of seats, applying early gives you better chances of securing admission. Additionally, due to the limited nature of financial aid grants, early applicants inherently have higher chances of securing financial aid.
Application for admission to ISDM’s PGP-DM program is free of cost. If you are interested in applying, please Register Your Interest here. Once you register, you will receive a link to the online Application Form.
ISDM's Online Assessment consists of two test components:
a. SVAR - Spoken English Test
This test evaluates a candidate's proficiency in spoken English across areas including pronunciation, fluency, active listening, comprehension of spoken English, vocabulary, grammar, and articulation. This test comprises 38 questions across 6 sections, with a time-limit of 30 minutes.
b. Basic Analytical Test
This test assesses a candidate’s fundamental analytical capabilities, encompassing basic numerical ability, attention to detail, data interpretation skills, verbal reasoning, and spatial reasoning proficiency. This test comprises 25 questions, with a time-limit of 10 minutes.
The total duration of the Assessment comes to approx. 40 minutes. Together, these two components comprehensively gauge the candidate's linguistic and analytical competencies, ensuring a thorough evaluation of their readiness for the PGP-DM program at ISDM.
Once your application is short-listed, we will send preparatory material on your registered email address. You may also find the same on your Student Dashboard. You may read more about How to prepare for an online assessment here.
Once your application is short-listed, we will provide you with detailed instructions and guidelines for logging in to the Online Assessment portal. The same is also available on your Student Dashboard.
The link for the Online Assessment will be active for 7 days from the receipt of the Online Assessment Link. Further details will be shared on your registered email, prior to the scheduled assessment date. Please note that once the Online Assessment is initiated, it must be completed in one attempt.
In case you face a technical glitch during the test, they are advised to reach out to the Test Technical Team through this link: Candidate Support immediately, or reach out to your assigned counsellor during working hours (9am to 6pm, from Monday to Saturday).
The Personal Interview will be conducted online. All the necessary information will be sent to shortlisted applicants on their registered e-mail ID, prior to their scheduled Personal Interview date.
We will send a set of preparatory guidelines to help shortlisted candidates prepare for the Personal Interview round, prior to your scheduled interview date. If you do not receive the same, please reach out to your assigned counsellor.
The fee structure at ISDM is as follows:
- A Caution Deposit of INR 25,000 (twenty-five thousand) needs to be deposited to confirm your seat in the program. Caution Deposit is refundable after completion of the program.
- The Tuition Fee for the entire program is INR 5,00,000 (five lakh). This does not include any living/accommodation costs. This amount is payable in 2 equal installments of INR 2,50,000 each, during the program.
- The first installment of the Tution Fee is to be paid in July, before the commencement of the program.
- The second installment of the Tuition Fee is to be paid 6 months after the first installment.
- In case a candidate withdraws their enrollment before the start date of the program, the Caution Deposit will be duly refunded, after deduction of applicable processing/transaction charges.
Currently, ISDM does not have an on-campus accommodation facility. However, ISDM provides students with references for verified, affordable accommodation options within a 5 km radius of the campus.
Although an MSW (Master of Social Work) course and the PGP-DM are both designed to prepare students to work in the Social Sector, an MSW program is geared more towards familiarizing students with field-work and working at the grass-root level, while the PGP-DM program teaches students management and leadership skills that are required to mentor teams working at the grass-root level.
An MSW program prepares you to work better on the ground, understand communities and issues, develop solutions, and implement them. On the other hand, ISDM’s PGP-DM teaches you to create world-class social organizations with appropriate strategy, structure, systems and processes. It also teaches you to put in place relevant networks, evaluation systems and a structure for monitoring progress. Students of PGP-DM master the ability to manage and lead a variety of Social Sector organizations, and successfully take up multiple roles that are indispensable for a thriving organization in the sector.
Public Policy is a theoretical discipline that focuses on how government policies can impact the lives of the public at large, how policies can be implemented effectively, and the factors that impact the making of said policies. The PGP-DM, on the other hand, is more hands-on and designed to prepare students to work for the needs of the Social Sector. Students of PGP-DM gain practical exposure through Rural Immersion, Professional Learning Communities and various workshops, and go on to work in Think Tanks, Consultancies, Government organizations or International NGOs.
Development Studies is a theoretical discipline that examines social, economic, and political factors influencing development, focusing on understanding inequalities and promoting sustainable solutions. On the other hand, ISDM's PGP-DM goes beyond theory, and imparts strategic management skills to design interventions, create sustainable SPOs, and lead impactful social change, bridging the gap between theory and practical implementation for tangible impact.