Around 70,000 rural youth are set to begin placement-linked skill training under DDU-GKY 2.0 across 24 States and UTs from October 2026.
New Delhi: Around 70,000 rural youth are expected to begin placement-linked skill training under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 across 24 States and Union Territories from October 2026, according to the Ministry of Rural Development.
The ministry said 2,015 training batches are scheduled to commence across the 24 States and UTs during October, marking a major step in the rollout of the second phase of the rural skill development programme.
According to the DDU-GKY 2.0 portal, targets covering 5.6 lakh beneficiaries and more than 1,200 projects have already been allocated to Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) by 24 States and UTs. The remaining States and UTs are also at an advanced stage of target allocation, the ministry said.
DDU-GKY 2.0 is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at providing placement-linked skill training to poor rural youth.
The ministry said all 31 participating States and Union Territories have been allocated more than nine lakh targets under DDU-GKY 2.0 for the two-year implementation period from 2026 to 2028.
Training under the scheme is designed to equip rural youth with skills that can improve their access to employment opportunities. Depending on the course, the training duration ranges from three to 12 months.
Under DDU-GKY 2.0, States and UTs are responsible for mobilising eligible rural youth and organising placement-linked training based on market and industry demand.
The programme is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with Project Implementation Agencies playing a key role in delivering the training.
Courses offered under the programme are aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), with the broader objective of helping beneficiaries secure sustained employment and build long-term employability.
The Ministry of Rural Development has emphasised the need for States and UTs to accelerate the implementation process, particularly the allocation of targets to Project Implementation Agencies and the commencement of training batches.
States and UTs have been directed to ensure that targets are allocated to PIAs and training is initiated by October 31, 2026, at the latest.
The ministry is also conducting phased review meetings with States and Union Territories to assess progress and build momentum towards the commencement of training batches.
The October rollout is expected to provide a significant push to the implementation of DDU-GKY 2.0, as States and UTs move from target allocation to actual mobilisation and training of rural youth.
