The Ministry of Rural Development will begin training batches under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 across most states and Union Territories from October 2026. Preparations were reviewed with 14 states and Union Territories during the first phase.
A total of 1,164 training batches are scheduled to commence in October, involving 34,920 rural youths. 14 states and Union Territories have been assigned the target of training 357,112 rural youths by December 31, 2027.
The Ministry reviewed the preparedness of 14 states/Union Territories—Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Karnataka, Telangana, and Bihar.
According to the DDU-GKY 2.0 portal, 5.6 lakh training targets across more than 1,200 projects have been allocated by 24 States/UTs, while other States are in the final stages of allocation. Further review meetings will help speed up the launch of training batches.
DDU-GKY is a centrally sponsored scheme that provides placement-linked skill training to rural youth from poor families, comprising courses ranging from three to 12 months in duration.
The Ministry also reviewed the implementation of the DDU-GKY 2.0 integrated Portal, which facilitates the digital monitoring and end-to-end management of projects. States and Union Territories have been advised to complete the pending integration with State Treasury Portals by September 30, 2026, to enable online payment facilities.
To support PIAs in using the new digital platform, regional workshops will be held in Shillong, Vijayawada, Mumbai and Dharamshala in October.
(PIB)
