Parliamentary Panel Flags Low Placement Rates in Rural Skilling Schemes

A recent parliamentary standing committee report has raised questions about how well rural skill training schemes work. Since 2014, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) has trained 18 lakh youth. However, nearly one-third of them do not have jobs. The committee, led by MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, noted that only 12 lakh candidates found work.

Performance issues also affect Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). Out of 62 lakh people who received training, only 45 lakh started their own work. The Ministry of Rural Development claims an overall job placement rate of 65%. Even so, recent data from 2025-26 shows a drop to 47.7% after the launch of DDU-GKY 2.0. This new version requires people to stay in their jobs for at least six months instead of three.

State performance and trends

Results differ a lot between states. Tamil Nadu has the highest placement rate at 95.3%. Meanwhile, states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar are below the national average. Women make up over 52% of all trainees. Helping them move into steady jobs remains a problem that experts watch closely.