Expertie

Scholarship

Skill Upgradation Program Karnataka(SUPK)

Composite
Eligibility
The applicant should be leather artisans.
Region
Karnataka
Award
Composite
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk

Overview

About SUPK

The Skill Upgradation Program is a Karnataka state scheme that trains people from the state's leather-artisan communities in leather technology, footwear and leather-goods making, and design. It is run by Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd (LIDKAR), a state corporation set up in 1976 to develop Karnataka's leather industry and improve the socio-economic conditions of scheduled-caste leather artisans. Administrative control of the corporation moved to the state's Social Welfare Department from 15 December 2011.

Selected candidates are deputed to short-term and long-term courses run by the Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI) and the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) in Chennai, and the Karnataka Institute of Leather Technology in Bengaluru. The corporation bears the course cost and pays a stipend during the training period, so beneficiaries receive both fee support and a maintenance allowance.

The program is aimed at young people from scheduled-caste leather-artisan sub-castes who live in Karnataka and have completed at least SSLC. Age and family-income conditions also apply, and beneficiaries are selected at the district level. Its stated purpose is to build skilled human resources for the state's leather industry while lifting the livelihoods of the artisan families it serves.

Sources: LIDKAR – Training Programs (Skill Upgradation Program) · LIDKAR – About Us (establishment, objective, Social Welfare Department control) · myScheme – Skill Upgradation Program Karnataka

Who runs it

Provider

Karnataka State Government

State / UT Government

Social Welfare Department

At a glance

Key details

LevelState/ UT
Scheme type
CategorySkills & Employment
BeneficiariesIndividual
Benefit typeComposite
Application modeOnline

Calendar

Important dates

Across all open application cycles.

Important dates by cycle
CycleStageDate

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria

The applicant should be leather artisans.
The applicant should belongs to sub-castes Arundathiyar, Chammadiya, Chamar, Chambar, Chamagar, Madar, Madig, Madiga, Mini Madig, Jambavalu, Haralayya, Machigar, Mochigar, Mochi, muchi, Telugu Mochi, kamaati mocha, Rohidas, Dhor, kakkayya, Kankayya, Samagara, Samagar, Aadhi Anddra, Aadhi Dravida, Aadhi Karnataka among schedule castes.
The applicant should have passed a Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC)/Pre-University Courses (PUC)/Degree to apply for the program.
The age of the applicant should be 18 years.
The applicant's annual family income should not exceed ₹30,000/- in rural areas and ₹25,000/- in urban areas.
The applicant or their family members must not have received benefits from other schemes, except training programs.
The applicant's family members should not be employed in government or semi-government organizations.

What you get

Award & benefits

  • Course Sponsorship: The corporation covers the entire cost of the course for selected artisans.- Stipend: A stipend is provided during the course duration to support the participants

What to prepare

Documents required

Aadhar Card.
Caste Certificate (with RD number).
Valid Income Certificate.
Ration Card.
Passport-size photographs (of applicant and spouse).
E-Shram Card (for Profession-cobbler/shoemaker).
Bank Passbook.
Profession Certificate/Skill Test Certificate.

Step by step

How to apply

  1. 1
    Apply online

    See the official links below for the application portal.

Questions

SUPK – FAQ

Disclaimer

Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.

Written by

Expertie Editorial Team

Expertie editorial desk

Published 8 Jul 2026 Last updated 8 Jul 2026verified data

Sources & References

  1. 1.myScheme (MeitY, Government of India) official-site· accessed 2026-07-08