NIRD&PR

1. There shall be a General Council of the Institute and it shall be composed of all the members of the Institute;
2. The annual general meeting of the General Council shall be held at such date, time and place as may be determined by the President;
3. The General Council shall meet at least once every year;
4. For the purpose of the last sub-rule, each year shall be deemed to commence on the first day of April and terminate on the thirty first day of March of the following Calendar year;
5. The President may convene a special meeting of the General Council whenever he thinks fit, and shall do so on the written requisition of not less than one third of the members of the Institute;
6. Every notice calling a meeting of the General Council shall state the date, time and place at which such meeting will be held and shall be served upon every member of the General Council not less than twenty one clear days before the day appointed for the meeting;
7. The accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of notice by, any member or other person, to whom it should be given, shall not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting;
8. In the absence of the President, the Minister in charge of Rural Development or related subject or in his absence, the Secretary to Government of India in the Department of Rural Development, who are Vice-President shall preside.
9. Nine member of the General Council present in person shall form a quorum. No quorum shall be required for an adjourned meeting;
10. All disputed questions at meetings of the General Council shall be determined by vote;
11. Each member of the Institute shall have one vote;
12. In case of an equality of votes the person presiding over the meeting shall, in addition, have a casting vote;
13. The president may invite any person other than a member, to attend a meeting of the General Council, such invitee shall not, however, be entitled to vote at the meeting;
14. The General Council shall function notwithstanding any vacancy therein and notwithstanding any defect in the appointment, nomination or election of any member and no act or proceedings of the General Council shall be invalidated or nullified merely by reason of the existence of any vacancy therein or any defect in the appointment, nomination or election of any member; and
15. Where for any reason it is not possible for the General Council to meet, any business which it may be necessary for the General Council to perform may be carried out by taking the approval of the President after due recommendation by the Executive Council, provided that the ex-post-facto approval of the General Council shall be obtained at its next meeting.

The General Council shall have the following powers and functions, namely, to:

1. Observe the Provisions of the Memorandum of Association, these Rules and such instructions of the Government of India in the Department;
2. Exercise general control and issue such directions for the efficient management and administration of the affairs of the Institute as may be necessary;
3. Nominate members of the Executive Council in accordance with clause (i) of Rule X;
4. Approve the annual budget of the Institute for submission to the Government of India for sanction of Government Grants;
5. Consider the Annual Report and audited Annual Accounts, of the Institute for the immediately preceding financial year along with the Audit Certificate, the Audit Report, and replies of the Institute to the observations contained in the Audit Report;
6. Add to, amend, vary or rescind, with the prior approval of the Government of India, any of these rules:
7. Frame Bye-laws not inconsistent with these Rules and the Memorandum of Association, for the management, administration and regulation of the business of the Institute for the furtherance of its objects;
8. Constitute an Academic Committee to advise on all Academic matters, i.e., matters relating to training, research and action research, and such standing committees as required, with or without the power of co-opt, for disposal of any business of the Institute or for advice on any matter pertaining to the Institute; and
9. Perform such other functions as are entrusted to it under these Rules.