- Provides free, industry-oriented skills training to unemployed youth, dropouts, and informal workers.
- Targets training 5 lakh youth annually through SDEL and other departments.
- Mandates 70% placement of successfully assessed trainees in jobs or self-employment
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Summary of the Scheme
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|---|---|
| Name of Scheme | Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana (CMKKY) |
| Benefits | Free Skill Training and Placement |
| Beneficiary | Unemployed Youth and Informal Workers |
| Nodal Agency | Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) |
| Subscription | Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme |
| Mode of Apply | Online |
Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana (CMKKY): Free Skill Training with a 70% Placement Target
Many young people in Karnataka have the drive to work but lack job-ready skills or the money for a course. The Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana (CMKKY) offers free, short-term, industry-oriented training for unemployed youth, school dropouts and informal workers, with training providers required to place at least 70% of successfully assessed trainees in jobs or self-employment. Registration on the portal is free.
No deadline is given. Registration is ongoing, according to the source, and you apply online on the KSDC portal. After that, counselling and batch selection happen offline at district level.
What is the scheme?
CMKKY is the flagship skill programme of the Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) Department, Government of Karnataka, implemented by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC). It was announced in the 2016-17 State Budget. Before it, different departments ran separate programmes with different syllabi and selection rules, so the state created the SDEL Department and brought skill training under one umbrella.
The target is to skill 5 lakh youth a year: 2.50 lakh through SDEL’s own schemes and 2.50 lakh through other departments and bodies. It also aims to standardise courses, trainee selection, training providers, assessment and placement across the state.
Scheme at a glance
| Benefit | Free skill training, certification and placement support |
| Who can apply | Unemployed youth, dropouts and informal workers in Karnataka |
| Nodal agency | Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) |
| Mode of application | Online registration, then offline counselling |
| Cost | Free for trainees |
| Placement target | At least 70% of successfully assessed trainees |
How the training works
- Demand-driven courses designed with industry, to NSQF standards
- Fresh job seekers: at least 200 hours
- People already working: re-skilling or up-skilling of at least 80 hours
- Run by Accredited Training Providers at registered centres, in residential, non-residential, full-time or part-time mode
- Includes soft skills and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- An independent agency assesses you, and successful trainees get a Certificate of Skill
- Unplaced trainees who pass get special placement assistance
Key benefits
- No fees. Training providers can’t charge trainees.
- Free registration, in English and Kannada
- Certificate of Skill approved by KSDC
- 70% placement mandate on providers
- Free email login for registered candidates and a free Digital Locker once training starts
Programmes running under CMKKY
- Yuva Nidhi Plus: job-oriented training for youth registered under the Yuva Nidhi scheme
- ILC and Future Skills: through KSDC’s Industry Linkage Cell, training for Yuva Nidhi beneficiaries and other unemployed youth in skills industry needs now, plus new-age Future Skills
- Learning with Skills: 3 credits (50 hours) of skill training for final-year BA, BCom and BSc students, with industry partners such as Adobe, Microsoft and Cisco
- Traditional and Regional Skills Training: short-term training with toolkits to pass on endangered traditional and regional crafts
Who is eligible?
- A resident of Karnataka with an Aadhaar number linked to Karnataka
- Looking for skill training, employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood, or apprenticeship
- Unemployed youth, dropouts and existing workers, especially in the informal sector
- Registered on the Kaushalkar portal with Aadhaar and a mobile number
- At least 70% attendance to appear in the final assessment
Age limits by category
| Category | Age |
|---|---|
| Jai Kaushal Jawan (ex-servicemen) | 33 to 50 |
| Widows of ex-servicemen and war widows | 15 to 50 |
| Specially challenged persons | 14 to 50 |
| Juvenile delinquents | 14 to 18 |
| Jail inmates (Kaushal Karagruha) | 15 to 50 |
| Short-term agriculture and animal husbandry courses | 15 to 50 |
| All others | 15 to 35 |
Departmental officers register juvenile delinquents and jail inmates and keep it confidential. Jai Kaushal Jawan training doesn’t overlap with Ministry of Defence programmes.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar number (mandatory)
- Mobile number (mandatory)
- Highest education certificate
- Resume
- Passport-size photo
- Any other relevant certificate
How to register
- Visit the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation website.
- Go to Online Services and click Registration of Candidate for Training.
- Under “What would you like to register for,” choose Skill.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and click Next. If it says “You are already registered,” you don’t need to register again.
- Click Yes to continue.
- Fill in your personal and trainee details, parent or guardian details and addresses.
- Add your education and languages.
- Under Past Skill Experience, choose No if you’ve had no prior skill training.
- Pick up to five preferred skills and your preferred training duration.
- Enter your expected salary for jobs within and outside your district.
- Upload your highest education certificate, age proof (Aadhaar), resume and any other certificate.
- Enter your mobile number, click Send OTP, enter it and Submit.
- A Token Number is sent to your email. Save it.
Stuck? Visit your District Skill Development Office, or ask an accredited training provider to counsel and register you.
What happens after you register
- KSDC calls you to verify your details and gauge your interest.
- You’re invited by SMS to in-person counselling at the District Skill Development Office, the YES office in the District Employment Office, or a Kaushalya Mela (usually at taluk headquarters).
- Officials check your documents, assess your aptitude and suggest a course.
- An accredited centre selects you for a job role and batch, and you get an SMS or email.
- The centre registers your fingerprint for biometric attendance, and training begins.
- After training with at least 70% attendance, you take an independent assessment.
- Successful trainees get the Certificate of Skill, and the provider helps with a job or self-employment.
For training providers
Organisations can register and get accredited on the portal.
- Eligible: NSDC/DDU-GKY providers, government institutes, recognised institutions, societies, trusts and registered companies
- Accreditation fee: ₹50,000, non-refundable. Government organisations are exempt, and eligible reserved-category entities get 50% off.
- Validity: 3 years, renewable for another 3 years for ₹50,000
- Up to 10 job roles and 2 batches per role per centre each year
- No sub-contracting or franchising
- Centres must keep biometric attendance, CCTV, photo and video records, and GPS tracking for mobile centres
Related Karnataka schemes
- Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Programme (RGEP): supports aspiring entrepreneurs developing business ideas and startups
- Karnataka Self-Employment Scheme: financial assistance to start or expand a business
Need help?
Contact details for the KSDC State Skill Office and District Skill Offices are on the KSDC website. The source gives no phone number or email.
Frequently asked questions
Is the training free?
Yes. Providers can’t collect any fee.
What is the age limit?
15 to 35 for most applicants, with different limits for special categories.
What attendance is needed?
At least 70% to appear in the final assessment.
Does CMKKY guarantee a job?
No. Providers must place at least 70% of successfully assessed trainees, and unplaced trainees get special placement help.
Can candidates from other states apply?
The eligibility rules require a Karnataka-linked Aadhaar and Karnataka residence.
Where can I get help registering?
At your District Skill Development Office or through an accredited training provider.