The Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (including the Training wing), the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited come under this Department. These units are all headed by IAS officers. This Department also provides administrative support to the State Election Commission.

The Director of Rural development and Panchayat Raj coordinates all establishment matters pertaining to the Department. As the Head of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj at the State level, he oversees all matters pertaining to Panchayat Raj Institutions in the State as well as the implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY), Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), etc., and State-funded Schemes like Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme (MLACDS), Self Sufficiency Scheme, Solar Powered Green House Scheme etc.

Co-ordinates various training programmes imparted to the elected representatives of the rural Local Bodies and officials of the Department through the SIRD & five Regional Institutes of Rural Development (RIRDs) of the State.