70,000 Rural Youth to Begin Skill Training Under DDU-GKY 2.0 Across States/UTs
The Ministry of Rural Development will launch new training batches under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 in most states and Union Territories (UTs) starting October 2026.
According to the DDU-GKY 2.0 portal, 24 states and UTs have already approved 5.6 lakh training seats across more than 1,200 projects implemented by Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs). Other states are also nearing the completion of their target allocations.
Approximately 2,015 training batches are expected to commence in these 24 states and UTs in October 2026, benefiting around 70,000 rural youths.
DDU-GKY is a central government scheme that provides job-oriented skill training to poor rural youth. Training courses range from 3 to 12 months in duration, depending on the specific skills being taught. For the 2026–28 period, a target has been set to train over 9 lakh youths across all 31 participating states and UTs.
State governments are responsible for identifying eligible rural youth, arranging skill training through public-private partnerships, and assisting trainees in securing employment upon course completion. The training adheres to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) to ensure the skills imparted meet industry requirements.
The Ministry has directed all states and UTs to complete the allocation of training targets to PIAs by October 31, 2026. It is also holding regular review meetings with the states to ensure that training programs commence on time.