New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- 70,000 rural youth across 24 States/UTs are set to commence skill training under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 from October 2026, as the Ministry of Rural Development prepares to roll out training batches under the scheme.

DDU-GKY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing placement-linked skill training to poor rural youth. The duration of training varies from 3 months to 12 months. All 31 participating States/UTs have been allocated more than 9 lakh targets under DDU-GKY 2.0 for the 2-year period 2026-28.

States/UTs have to mobilise rural youth and organise placement-linked skill training, as per demand, in PPP mode, in National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)-aligned courses, e...