The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, organized a two-day National-Level Workshop on "Completion of Projects under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 1.0" at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Pusa, New Delhi, on September 7-8, 2026. The workshop brought together senior ministry officials, representatives from States and Union Territories, and technical experts from Central Technical Support Agencies including NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) and the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR).
The primary objective was to review DDU-GKY 1.0 projects and develop a coordinated approach for formal closure after completion of documentation. DDU-GKY is a flagship placement-linked skill development program under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) that aims to enhance employability of rural youth through market-oriented skill training and placement.
During the inaugural session, Shri Pawan Kumar, Director (Rural Skills), emphasized a project-specific, action-oriented approach for all pending projects, stressing timely bottleneck resolution and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures. Ms. Jayasree M.G., Joint Secretary (Rural Skills-II), called for a coordinated, time-bound campaign-mode approach to complete documentation for over 2,000 DDU-GKY 1.0 projects and highlighted DDU-GKY 2.0 priorities including achieving at least 70% placement and strengthening employment retention.
Technical sessions featured presentations by NABCONS and NIRDPR on project documentation completion, focusing on best practices, case studies, challenges, possible solutions, and stakeholder roles and responsibilities. Representatives from 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal shared their experiences and project completion status, providing a platform for peer learning and exchange of effective practices.
The workshop concluded with consolidation of key learnings and priority areas, with all participating States and Union Territories reaffirming commitment to work closely with the Ministry and technical agencies to ensure transparent, accountable, and time-bound execution of DDU-GKY 1.0 project completion.