Skill development has emerged as an important policy instrument for addressing unemployment, underemployment, and livelihood insecurity in rural India. In agrarian regions with limited non-farm employment opportunities, skill-based interventions are expected to enhance employability, income stability, and livelihood security. The present study examines the impact of the Skill India Initiative, with special reference to the Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana (CMKKY), on rural livelihoods at the household level among different social groups in Vijayapura district of Karnataka. Vijayapura district is predominantly rural and characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions, high dependence on agriculture, small and marginal landholdings, and widespread seasonal migration, making it a suitable area for examining livelihood outcomes of skill development programmes. The study adopts a household-level approach to analyse the impact of skill training on employment status, household income, migration patterns, and livelihood security among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and General category households. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from selected rural households across different talukas of Vijayapura district, while secondary data were sourced from Census reports, Periodic Labour Force Survey, Skill India and CMKKY reports, and district statistical publications. The findings indicate that skill development initiatives have contributed positively to improving employment opportunities and income stability, though variations persist across social groups and talukas. The study concludes that while Skill India and CMKKY have strengthened rural livelihoods, targeted and inclusive interventions are required to ensure equitable livelihood outcomes.