New Delhi, October 4(HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of transformative youth-centric initiatives worth over Rs. 62,000 crore during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, today on Saturday. The event celebrated skill development and education advancement, with an emphasis on empowering Indian youth to align with industry and global demand.
Highlighting the importance of knowledge and skill as India’s greatest strengths, PM Modi announced the launch of the centrally sponsored PM SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) scheme. This flagship Rs. 60,000 crore initiative aims to upgrade 1,000 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) nationwide through a hub-and-spoke model comprising 200 hub ITIs linked to 800 spoke ITIs.
The clusters will feature advanced infrastructure, modern trades, digital learning systems, incubation centers, and close industry collaboration to ensure skill training matches evolving market requirements. The scheme also includes global co-financing support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, with initial focus on ITIs in Bihar’s Patna and Darbhanga.
In a significant step for Bihar, PM Modi inaugurated the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University, named after the revered social reformer and Bharat Ratna awardee Karpoori Thakur, who dedicated his life to social service and education upliftment. This university will focus on industry-driven courses and vocational training designed to build a globally competitive workforce while carrying forward Thakur’s vision of uplifting marginalized communities.
Complementing these initiatives, the Prime Minister inaugurated 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across India. These labs provide hands-on training in 12 high-demand sectors including IT, automotive, agriculture, and electronics, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
Further addressing Bihar’s youth, PM Modi highlighted the revival of the state’s educational ecosystem after decades of neglect and migration-driven challenges. The government has expanded educational infrastructure with new facilities at IIT Patna, the newly opened Bihta campus of NIT Patna housing advanced labs and incubation centers, and foundational work at Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya, and Nalanda Open University.
The Prime Minister also announced financial empowerment measures such as the revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, which will provide Rs. 1,000 monthly allowances to nearly five lakh graduates in Bihar for two years, alongside free skill development training.
Education loans under the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme will now be interest-free, and scholarships increased to Rs. 3,600 for students, significantly easing financial burdens for higher education aspirants.PM Modi emphasized that Bihar’s youth form a vital demographic asset, with the state witnessing the creation of nearly 10 lakh permanent government jobs in recent years and recruitment of over 2.5 lakh teachers, enhancing both employment and educational standards.
The government aims to double employment opportunities in Bihar within the next five years, ensuring youth can find jobs locally.“This generation holds the key to a self-reliant and prosperous India,” said the Prime Minister, underscoring that skills, innovation, and hard work will empower the nation’s future. He felicitated 46 all-India toppers from ITIs, applauding their dedication and success, including those from rural and marginalized backgrounds.
The PM also recognized the ongoing GST Savings Festival, celebrating reductions in GST on goods like bikes and scooters, which has generated enthusiasm among Bihar’s youth ahead of the festive season.
Joining the event were Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Jayant Chaudhary, Jual Oram, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Sukanta Majumdar and other dignitaries via video conferencing.
The comprehensive youth initiatives aim to forge a skilled workforce equipped to meet India’s evolving economic landscape, fostering entrepreneurship and employment, with Bihar positioned as a center of this revitalized skill and education movement.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
