The Minister of State for Rural Development informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that Rural Self Employment Training Institutes have been central to rural livelihood promotion by imparting skills and enabling entrepreneurship. The institutes operate a nationwide network that provides free residential training and post-training handholding through a partnership between banks and government. Currently 632 RSETIs are operational across 619 districts in 33 States and Union Territories, sponsored by 25 banks, reflecting wide geographic reach.

RSETIs offer short-duration, practical residential programmes for unemployed rural youth aged 18 to 50 years and the courses are aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework. 73 courses span agriculture, manufacturing, services and entrepreneurship development and are designed to equip trainees to set up micro-enterprises. Lead and sponsoring banks are reported to play an active role in facilitating credit linkage and start-up support.

Since 2009 to February 2026 the institutes have delivered substantial outcomes, with a training target of six point zero eight one million (6.081 mn) and six point zero six three million (6.063 mn) candidates trained, while four point three eight nine million (4.389 mn) were recorded as settled and bank finance was facilitated for two point two five two million (2.252 mn) beneficiaries. The year 2024-25 registered the highest annual training achievement of zero point six two one million (0.621 mn) candidates. These figures underline sustained scale and outreach.

Credit linkage remains a cornerstone of the model and progress is reviewed in District Level RSETI Advisory Committee meetings and banking forums to ensure timely loan sanction and effective enterprise establishment support. Institutes have diversified offerings to include new-age courses such as digital services, mobile repair and computer applications, enhancing employability in the evolving rural economy. A dedicated management information system and periodic field visits are used to monitor enterprise sustainability and provide follow up assistance.