Uttarakhand Institute of Rural Development (UIRD) was established in the year September 2002 autonomous training & capacity building institute registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Consequent to the creation of separate Uttarakhand State, the state government entrusted the Uttarakhand Academy of Administration, Nainital with the responsibility of pursuing the functions of also performing as State Institute of Rural Development for the state till the establishment of the new institute. After a thoughtful decision the main campus of the institute has been developed at Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar in 45 acres of land allotted to it by the state government. The institute is presently functioning in the sprawling new campus. The Director of Uttarakhand Academy of Administration (ATI) is the Chairman of the executive committee of UIRD for administrative and technical purposes. UIRD has been designated as the apex capacity building institute in the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj sector of the state.

• To examine and analyze the factors contributing to the improvement of economic and social well being of people in rural areas on a sustainable basis with focus on rural poor and other disadvantaged groups through research, action research and consultancy efforts.
• To facilitate the rural development efforts with particular emphasis and focus on the rural poor by improving the knowledge, skills and attitudes of rural development officials and non-officials through organising training, workshops and seminars.
• To develop competent human resource for rural governance and perform as a Centre of Excellence in the field of for the Rural Development Branch by assisting the department in developing good governance and management of rural areas.

Training is the main objective of this Institute. Apart from the mandatory and regular courses, Training programmes are designed and conducted as per the policies of the State Government, Rural Development Department.

Research Projects are also taken as per the need. Evaluation of various Government Programmes, implemented in the State are done by the Faculty Members apart from the collaborative projects of the Institute with other similar organisations like NIRD

UIRD trainings are also arranged in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Academy of Administration, Nainital, Uttarakhand Forest Training Academy, Haldwani (Nainital), National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad and Extension Training Centres, Uttarakhand. The training strategies primarily rely upon identification of training need followed by designing of training modules, implementation and evaluation.