Overview
The Standing Committee on Rural Development, chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka, has raised concerns over the gap between training and employment under the DDU‑GYK. The committee’s report, tabled on 11 August 2026, urges stronger placement tracking, post‑placement support and the creation of district‑level placement cells.
Key Developments
- Training‑to‑placement gap: Out of 18.38 lakh rural youth trained, only 11.94 lakh have been placed, with 576 placements abroad.
- Women participation: 9.65 lakh women trained and 6.03 lakh placed – nearly 50% of total placements.
- Inadequate wages: Many placed candidates receive low salaries, leading to dropout and distress migration.
- Funding: Approved budget of ₹10,114.53 crore (2021‑26) with a revised estimate of ₹1,161.99 crore; actual spend ₹977.74 crore, leaving ₹184.25 crore unspent.
- Implementation delays: COVID‑19 disrupted approvals (2020‑23); most projects approved only in 2023‑24.
- Under‑utilisation in related schemes: ₹119.06 crore unspent in DAY‑NRLM and ₹28.21 crore in RSETIs.
Important Facts
The scheme covers 37 sectors and 816 trades. Under PIAs, the committee recommends assessment based on sustained employment, not just initial placement.
RSETI has trained 61.45 lakh people since 2009, with 44.9 lakh settled in enterprises and credit linkage to 23.5 lakh beneficiaries; women constitute about 71% of trainees.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the implementation challenges of large‑scale skill‑development programmes is crucial for GS 3 (Economy & Development). The report highlights the interplay between policy design, funding utilisation, and ground‑level outcomes – a typical question in the UPSC mains on effectiveness of welfare schemes. The role of parliamentary committees and the need for accountability of PIAs tie into governance and public administration topics in GS 2. Moreover, the gender‑wise data on training and placement can be linked to discussions on women’s empowerment and inclusive growth.
Way Forward
- Achieve near 100% placement tracking through mandatory industry linkages and localized drives.
- Institutionalise post‑placement support: migration assistance, retention monitoring, skill upgradation and minimum‑wage targets.
- Set up district‑level placement cells to bridge the training‑employment gap.
- Assess PIAs on long‑term livelihood outcomes rather than one‑time placements.
- Accelerate fund release for DAY‑NRLM and RSETI to avoid under‑utilisation and improve programme impact.
- Address wage inadequacy by aligning skill training with market demand and enforcing minimum wage norms for rural employment.
Implementing these recommendations can enhance the effectiveness of DDU‑GYK, reduce distress migration, and contribute to the broader goal of rural livelihood security.