

Chandigarh, one of the most renowned institutions dealing with cooperative training and education in Northern India, is the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM). It was first set up in 1956 as a Block Development Training Centre at Sangrur, renamed Cooperative Training College and transferred to Patiala. In 1973 the institute changed its location to Sector 32-C, Chandigarh and later in 1996 was declared as a Regional Institute as it is having scope and regional importance.
RICM Chandigarh was initially placed administratively under the Reserve Bank of India but subsequently placed under National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT). The institute caters a large area that encircles Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh where the facilities of specialised training, consultancy, and research to the cooperative societies and the government departments are provided.
RICM Chandigarh has an array of academic programs like Higher Diploma in Cooperative Management (HDCM), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Agri Business), and BBA. These programs are meant to impart skills in students and professionals to lead and invent in the cooperative sector. These programs are admissible with at least a degree in any of the following disciplines; Nursing Teaching Biology Management English Languages, Math and Computer Science Social Sciences Agriculture Finance Law. The institute focuses equally on academics and actual training coupled with a great deal of emphasis on leadership development, economic empowerment and social responsibility.
RICM Chandigarh has gained the reputation of being one of the most prominent cooperative training institutions in India with more than 50 years experience. It is also both traditional and innovative and tries to produce future leaders of the cooperative movement and regional development. It has good infrastructure and a qualified teacher body and also effective linkages which makes it a key resource center in cooperative education in the northern part of India.
Particular | Details |
Institute Name | Regional Institute of Cooperative Management |
Mode of Education | Regular |
Location | Chandigarh |
Departments | Management |
Courses Offered | UG, PG Diploma, HDCM, DGR |
Accredited by | C-PEC (BIRD) |
Popular Courses | BBA, HDCM, DGR, BBA, PGDM-ABM |
Mode of Admission | Online |
CAT Admission Start Date | August 2025 (Tentative) |
CAT Admission End Date | September 2025 (Tentative) |
Selection Criteria | Merit and Entrance Based |
Placement | Yes |
Institute Type | Regional Institute |
Official website |
Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Chandigarh has admitted student to its post-graduate diploma program in the sectors of cooperative and agri business. The institute specialises in cooperative education and has gained a high reputation in producing professionals that are qualified to lead even in the public and the private sector organisations.
For Diploma courses, candidates need to have completed their 12th grade and have an overall score of 50% or higher. Some examples of these courses include Diploma in Computer Applications and Higher Diploma in Cooperative Management (HDCM). Admissions are mainly based on merit, and sometimes there might be a personal interview or entrance test; some courses may have additional requirements.
The main course offered is a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management with a focus on Agri Business. To apply, students need to have a Bachelor's degree in any subject, and for some programs, having relevant work experience in cooperatives or similar industries will be an advantage. Applicants should have scores from various entrance exams like CAT, CMAT, XAT, and CUCET.
Interested candidates can apply online on the official RICM Chandigarh website, where they will find detailed information on course structure, eligibility, and important dates.
Dates | Events |
CAT Application Start Date | August 2025 (Tentative) |
CAT Application Last Date | September 2025 (Tentative) |
The Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM) Chandigarh provides several programs in the 2025 academic year; all these programs have different eligibility requirements which aim at attracting applicants who have a bright desire to pursue cooperative business or agriculture business interests.
In case of the Higher Diploma in Cooperative Management, applicants are to have appeared in their Class 12th educational program in a recognised board. Admission depends on academic ability, and there should be an actual interest in the cooperative movement.
The two years full time Post Graduate Diploma Management (PGDM) in Agriculture Business Management is focused on the graduates who desire to become specialised in the area of agri-business and cooperative enterprise. To qualify, students must have completed their graduation in any course in a recognised university. Along with this, selection is based on the entrance tests such as CAT, CMAT, XAT CUCET , group discussion and personal interview.
The other course offered by RICM Chandigarh is Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), where the minimum percentage of passing is 10+2 with at least 50% as required by the institute. The BBA is an undergraduate course that aims at establishing a solid business and management foundation that incorporates cooperatives.
Generally, admissions are merit- and entrance-oriented and prospective students are supposed to provide their academic records and a properly filled-application form. The programs can have some personal interviews or written tests to understand the suitability and determination to be in the cooperative sector.
The Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM) is located in Chandigarh and is becoming well-known for offering quality education in cooperative and agribusiness management. As the placement season approaches, the institute continues to show its commitment to helping students succeed by having strong connections with the industry and providing training that focuses on practical skills.
The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) with specialisation in Agri Business, offered by RICM is the flagship program and is aimed to offer both theoretical and practical aspects to its students. The placement process, which in many cases involves internship programs, group discussions and individual interviews, leave the students fully equipped to meet challenges in the market. Practical induction is kept as a major focus of the teaching methodology, which is facilitated by qualified faculty and state of art facilities such as smart classrooms, computer labs, and a rich library facility.
In 2025 the Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Chandigarh remained dedicated to assisting the students in terms of different scholarships. Such scholarships are mainly required to encourage education in the sphere of the cooperative and the agribusiness, particularly among the students who belong to the economically weaker stratum and underrepresented groups.
The students who performed exceptionally well throughout the course of study are offered merit-based scholarships within the institute. Also, financial aid based on need will be provided to individuals with economic difficulties to make sure that the student with merit does not get left behind due to money crunch. The access to the government-sponsored scholarships like those of SC/ST/OBC, minority students and women candidates, too, comes under RICM, according to the policies of national education.

