What is DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training?
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) provides free residential skill training to rural youth from poor families (aged 15-35) and places them in jobs paying minimum ₹10,000/month. It is funded by Ministry of Rural Development and covers food, accommodation, and training costs. Focus on SC/ST/minorities/women — 50% of training must be for these categories.
DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | DDU-GKY 2026 — Free Residential Skill Training + Placement for Rural Youth |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2014 |
| Benefit | Free residential skill training + placement in ₹10,000+/month jobs + food + accommodation |
| Category | Employment |
| Last Verified | 5 July 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://ddugky.gov.in |
दीनदयाल उपाध्याय ग्रामीण कौशल्य योजना (DDU-GKY) ग्रामीण गरीब परिवारों के 15-35 वर्ष के युवाओं को मुफ्त residential कौशल प्रशिक्षण देती है और ₹10,000/माह minimum वेतन वाली नौकरी दिलाती है। खाना, रहना, training सब सरकार देती है। SC/ST/अल्पसंख्यक/महिलाओं को 50% सीटें।
मुफ्त residential कौशल प्रशिक्षण + ₹10,000+/माह नौकरी + खाना + रहना — सरकार की तरफ से
Benefits of DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training
Free residential skill training + placement in ₹10,000+/month jobs + food + accommodation
Who is Eligible for DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training?
- ✓Rural youth aged 15 to 35 years (up to 45 for SC/ST/Women/PWD)
- ✓From rural poor families — SECC/BPL/MG-NREGA/Antyodaya
- ✓Minimum Class 8 pass for most courses
- ✓No upper income limit — but priority to poorest households
- ✓At least 50% seats reserved for SC/ST/Women/Minority/PwD
Documents Required for DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training
How to Apply for DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training Online?
- 1ddugky.gov.in पर जाएं और 'Find Training Centre' से नजदीकी centre खोजें
- 2Block / District Rural Development Office से संपर्क करें
- 3SECC/BPL identification और education certificate के साथ apply करें
- 4Training में selection और joining — food, accommodation, training सब free
- 5Training पूरी होने पर job placement — minimum ₹10,000/माह नौकरी की guarantee
- 6Placement के बाद कुछ months तک monitoring और retention support
Official Government Portal
Applications go through ddugky.gov.in only. Applying is free of charge — no agent, middleman or "consultant" is ever required.
🔗Apply on ddugky.gov.inReal-Life Examples — Are You Eligible for DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training?
A quick way to gauge your eligibility — find the profile nearest to yours:
Manoj, 19, Class 10 pass from a rural MGNREGA household, wants a healthcare job in the city
Eligible — he is in the 15–35 band, from a rural poor (MGNREGA) family, meets the Class 8 minimum — healthcare courses like nurse aide and lab technician are among the 250+ DDU-GKY trades
Rekha, 38, an SC woman from a BPL family who missed earlier chances to train
Eligible — the age limit extends to 45 for SC/ST, women and PwD candidates, and at least 50% of seats are reserved for these categories
Rohit, 24, from a well-off urban family, attracted by the free residential training
Not eligible — DDU-GKY is for RURAL youth identified through SECC/BPL/MGNREGA/Antyodaya — urban candidates should look at city-focused skill schemes instead
Sample profiles, not guarantees — recheck the notified criteria before you apply.
Common Mistakes — Why DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training Applications Get Rejected
- ✗Confusing DDU-GKY with day-scholar courses — it is residential; hostel, food and uniform are free, and moving to the training centre is part of the deal.
- ✗Applying without rural-poverty identification — the SECC/BPL/ration-card family proof is what qualifies you, not just being from a village.
- ✗Quitting mid-course — the placement guarantee (70% of trainees into ₹10,000+/month jobs) applies to those who complete training and assessment.
- ✗Women skipping the scheme over safety worries — separate hostels, female staff and safety norms are mandatory for training partners, and there is a 33% women-enrollment target.
Insider Tips for DDU-GKY Rural Skill Training
- →Use 'Find Training Centre' on ddugky.gov.in AND visit the Block/District Rural Development Office — local offices know which centres have batches starting soon.
- →Pick the trade by placement record, not the shortest course — training partners must place trainees or lose their contract, so ask each centre for its actual placement numbers.
- →Use the post-placement retention support — the first months in a new city are when most dropouts happen, and the scheme monitors and supports you through them.
- →Carry every document on day one (Aadhaar, SECC/BPL proof, marksheet, caste certificate, Aadhaar-linked bank passbook) — incomplete files are the most common enrolment delay.