The Institute conducts and participates in training programmes to disseminate information as well as to learn from the process of information sharing. The training programmes are designed to meet the specific target groups, which include senior policy planners, middle level development functionaries, non- governmental organizations and panchayati raj institutions. Apart from the training programmes organised at the Institute, the faculty of the Institute is encouraged to participate as resource persons for several international and national training courses. It has been the endeavour of the Institute to design training programmes in those areas and for those functionaries who could enhance their ability to contribute to the process of development. Although the training programmes conducted by the Institute are many times demand driven, the knowledge gained through different studies is applied to make the programmes informative and more useful to the participants. In quite a few areas, the Institute has prepared training modules and manuals.

In view of the growing interest in the role of NGOs and PRIs in rural development in particular and development in general, the Institute has embarked on a number of training programmes related to NGOs and PRIs. The purpose of conducting such programmes is not only to provide a platform to initiative discussion/debate on development issues but also make attempt to resolve problems NGOs and PRIs face both at conceptual and operational level while participating in the development programmes in rural areas. Another major focus of the training programmes is on women and children. The development functionaries concerned with this area are given exposure to different means of addressing the problems of women and children, such as malnutrition, illiteracy and impoverishment.