SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Context: The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), launched on 25 September 2014 under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, has completed 12 years in 2026, strengthening pathways from skills to employment and sustainable livelihoods for rural youth.

About the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

• 25 September 2014 was declared ‘Antyodaya Diwas’ in honour of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s 98th birth anniversary. 

• On the same day, the Ministry of Rural Development revamped its existing Aajeevika Skills programme as DDU-GKY.

• DDU-GKY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing placement-linked skill training to poor rural youth aged 15–35 years, with training ranging from three to 12 months.

• The Government notified the upgraded DDU-GKY 2.0 Guidelines in May 2025, strengthening the framework around training, placements, employment sustainability and post-placement support.

• DDU-GKY 2.0 adopts an end-to-end approach, covering training, placement, employment retention and career progression. The minimum placement duration has been extended from three months to six months, covering wage, self-employment and gig employment.

• The scheme promotes social inclusion through mandatory coverage of SC/ST communities (50%), women (33%) and persons with disabilities (5%).

• Special initiatives include Roshni for LWE-affected districts and Aspirational Districts, and Himayat for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 10% of the total DDU-GKY allocation is earmarked for the North-Eastern States.

Achievements of the Scheme

• Wide skilling and placement reach: Since inception in 2014-15, over 18.47 lakh candidates have been trained across 36 sectors and more than 800 job roles, with over 12.43 lakh placed.

• Extensive implementation network: DDU-GKY is currently implemented across 31 States/UTs, with 749 approved projects, 760 active training centres and more than 455 Project Implementing Agencies.

• Women’s participation: More than 9.71 lakh women have been trained, while over 6.34 lakh women have secured placements under the scheme.

• Strengthened employment retention: DDU-GKY 2.0 provides 12 months of post-placement tracking. 

• Placed candidates receive financial assistance of ₹7,620, while ₹5,000 retention support is provided to candidates who remain employed for 365 days, with a maximum employment break of 60 days.

• Technology-enabled implementation: The revised framework introduces advanced dashboards, a public candidate portal, automated processes, digital attendance and assessment through face authentication, and Skill India Digital Hub integration for programme monitoring and implementation.

Need and Significance of the Scheme

• Harnessing rural demographic potential: The youth population is projected to reach nearly 345 million by 2036, making access to quality skills, employment and livelihood opportunities important for inclusive economic growth.

• Improving employability: Industry-aligned training combines job-specific technical skills with English communication, employability and life skills, computer and digital literacy, and entrepreneurship.

• Promoting sustainable livelihoods: The six-month minimum placement duration, post-placement tracking, retention support and opportunities for upskilling and reskilling after 12 months strengthen employment continuity and career progression.

• Supporting vulnerable regions: Roshni, Himayat, the North-Eastern allocation and Special Area Allowance address the specific needs of LWE-affected, Aspirational, North-Eastern and hard-to-reach areas.

• Expanding livelihood pathways: Alongside placement-linked wage employment through DDU-GKY, Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) provide free residential training and handholding support for rural self-employment and entrepreneurship. 

• As on date, 647 RSETIs across 634 districts have trained 63.47 lakh candidates, with 45.60 lakh settled.

Gaps and Challenges

• Slow transition to training: Although all 31 participating States/UTs have been allocated more than nine lakh targets for 2026–28, the Ministry has asked States/UTs to accelerate target allocation to PIAs and commence training by 31 October 2026.

• Uneven rollout of DDU-GKY 2.0: Targets of 5.6 lakh beneficiaries covering more than 1,200 projects have been allocated to PIAs by 24 States/UTs, while other States/UTs are still at an advanced stage of target allocation.

• Employment retention: While DDU-GKY 2.0 has strengthened post-placement support, ensuring employment continuity and sustained livelihoods remains important, particularly as the scheme has shifted towards six-month placement and longer-term tracking.

• Migration-related challenges: A considerable proportion of trained candidates migrate for livelihood opportunities, requiring effective Migration Support Centres in both home and destination states for accommodation assistance, counselling, placement support and settlement.

• Implementation in difficult areas: Socio-cultural differences, unique topography in the North-Eastern States and hard-to-reach areas create implementation challenges, requiring continued Special Area Allowance and targeted interventions.