70,000 rural youth to begin skill training in October 2026; 2,015 batches planned across 24 states

Around 70,000 rural youth across 24 States and Union Territories are expected to begin skill training under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 from October 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development announced.

The upcoming training drive will cover 2,015 batches aimed at providing placement-linked skill development opportunities to rural youth. The initiative is part of the Centre's efforts to improve employment prospects among economically disadvantaged rural communities.

According to the Ministry, allocations of 5.6 lakh training targets across more than 1,200 projects have been completed by 24 States and Union Territories for Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs). The remaining participating states are in advanced stages of allocating their targets.

All 31 participating States and Union Territories have been allocated more than 9 lakh targets under DDU-GKY 2.0 for the two-year period from 2026 to 2028. The Ministry has asked states and UTs to accelerate the allocation process and ensure training batches commence within the prescribed timelines. Target allocations to PIAs for starting training must be completed by October 31, 2026.

DDU-GKY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that provides placement-linked skill training to poor rural youth. The duration of training courses ranges from three months to 12 months, depending on the course and skill requirements.

Under the programme, states and UTs are responsible for mobilising rural youth and organising training based on employment demand. Courses are delivered in public-private partnership (PPP) mode and are aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). The scheme aims to equip beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills and improve their prospects of sustained employment.

The Ministry of Rural Development is conducting phased review meetings with states and UTs to monitor progress and accelerate the rollout. The meetings focus on ensuring timely allocation of targets to implementing agencies and commencement of training batches according to the October 2026 schedule.

The Ministry has emphasised that this is a crucial phase for state-level action as the programme moves towards wider implementation across the country.