Guwahati: The Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), under the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development, has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) to undertake Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 projects across Assam. The deadline for submitting these proposals, aimed at enhancing skill development and employment opportunities for rural youth, is June 26, 2026.
This initiative is a crucial step towards empowering the state’s rural youth by providing them with market-linked skills, thereby fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing to economic diversification in rural households. The DDU-GKY scheme, a flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, specifically targets young individuals from poor families, aged between 15 and 35 years, to equip them for wage employment.
What was announced
The Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), an autonomous body established by the Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Government of Assam, issued the Expression of Interest for DDU-GKY 2.0 project proposals. The announcement, published on May 25, 2026, seeks applications from eligible Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) that possess a valid Permanent Registration Number (PRN) from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India. These agencies are invited to submit proposals for implementing skill development and placement-linked training programs in Assam.
Why it matters
This call for proposals is significant for Assam as it aims to address the skill gap among rural youth and facilitate their entry into the formal workforce. DDU-GKY 2.0 emphasizes placement-linked training, ensuring that a substantial percentage of trained candidates secure regular wage employment. The scheme is designed to provide free skill training, recognized certifications, and job placement support, thereby directly impacting the economic well-being of rural poor families.
Nationally, DDU-GKY has played a vital role in skill development. As of November 2024, approximately 16.90 lakh candidates have been trained, with 10.97 lakh placed in gainful employment since the scheme’s inception in FY 2014-15, according to the Ministry of Rural Development. In Assam, ASRLM has been instrumental in mobilizing rural communities and implementing skill development programs, with DDU-GKY specifically targeting vulnerable groups including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, minorities, and women.
Background
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) was launched on September 25, 2014, by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Its origins trace back to the ‘Special Projects’ component of the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) in 2004, later evolving into Aajeevika Skills before being rebranded as DDU-GKY. The scheme’s vision is to “Transform rural poor youth into an economically independent and globally relevant workforce.”
ASRLM, established on November 11, 2011, by the Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, Government of Assam, is the state-level implementing agency for the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in Assam. It aims to build community institutions, provide skill development training, and facilitate access to financial services for rural poor, particularly empowering rural women through Self Help Groups (SHGs). DDU-GKY 2.0 introduces updated guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance implementation, focusing on increased placement periods and funding based on training batches.
Key details
Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) interested in applying must be registered under relevant Indian laws, such as the Indian Trusts Act, Societies Registration Act, or Companies Act 2013, and hold a Permanent Registration Number (PRN) from the Ministry of Rural Development. NGOs must also be registered with the NITI Aayog’s Darpan Portal. The EOI specifies four categories of PIAs: Captive Employers, existing PIAs with over 50 percent placement records under DDU-GKY, new skilling agencies without prior DDU-GKY experience, and Start-ups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
A non-refundable initial screening fee of ₹25,000 plus GST is required, with an additional ₹1,25,000 plus GST for quality appraisal for shortlisted PIAs. Proposals are to be submitted online through the Ministry of Rural Development’s official portal. The State Project Approval Committee (PAC) will evaluate proposals based on factors such as fund availability, alignment with priority sectors, district coverage, and the number of trainees.
Priority sectors for training in Assam, based on ASRLM’s Skill Gap Study, include IT-ITeS (covering AI, Data Analytics, 3D Printing), Automotive, Capital Goods, Construction, Electronics, Healthcare, Logistics, Media & Entertainment, Retail, Telecom, Tourism & Hospitality, Solar, Handicrafts, Biofuel/CBG, Airport Operations, Power Sector, Water Management, and Textiles. At least 90 percent of proposed job roles must align with these sectors.
What’s next
Following the submission deadline of June 26, 2026, the submitted EOIs will undergo an initial screening process. PIAs that clear this stage will be invited for a quality appraisal. The State Project Approval Committee (PAC) is expected to evaluate and sanction projects, with total targets assigned by August 31, 2026. The first batch of training under the approved projects is slated to commence by October 31, 2026, and all training activities are projected to conclude by December 31, 2027. Placement or self/gig-employment initiatives are expected to begin by March 31, 2028.