By News Karnataka Editorial Team

Copyright newskarnataka

New Delhi: In a major boost to youth development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil a series of transformative initiatives worth over Rs 62,000 crore aimed at strengthening education, skill development, and entrepreneurship across India. The event, scheduled for 11 AM at Vigyan Bhawan, will also include the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the fourth National Skill Convocation, where 46 All India Toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be felicitated.

PM-SETU: Transforming India’s ITI ecosystem

The highlight of the event will be the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, a centrally sponsored initiative with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore.

The programme envisions upgrading 1,000 government ITIs across India into a hub-and-spoke model, with 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will be connected to four spokes, creating clusters equipped with advanced infrastructure, digital learning systems, and incubation facilities.

Under this model, Anchor Industry Partners will manage the clusters, ensuring outcome-based training aligned with market demand. Hubs will house innovation centres, training-of-trainers facilities, production units, and placement services, while spokes will improve access to skilling. The scheme will operate as a government-owned but industry-managed model, with global co-financing from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

In the first phase, ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga will receive special focus for modernisation.

Expanding skill education to schools

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs across 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in 34 States and Union Territories. These labs will provide hands-on training in 12 high-demand sectors, including IT, automotive, agriculture, logistics, electronics, and tourism.

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative will also train 1,200 vocational teachers to deliver industry-relevant education and strengthen employability among students, including those in remote and tribal areas.

Bihar: A major beneficiary

The event places a special emphasis on Bihar, reflecting the state’s youthful demographic and developmental priorities. PM Modi will launch the revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, which will benefit five lakh graduate youth. Each beneficiary will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for two years and free skill training annually.

The redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme will provide interest-free education loans up to Rs 4 lakh, easing the financial burden of higher studies. So far, 3.92 lakh students have availed of loans worth Rs 7,880 crore under the scheme.

Further, PM Modi will formally inaugurate the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a statutory body for people aged 18 to 45, to promote youth empowerment and leadership.

Boosting higher education and innovation

PM Modi will inaugurate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, envisioned to impart industry-oriented courses and vocational training to produce a globally competitive workforce.

He will also lay the foundation stones for new academic and research facilities at four universities—Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (Madhepura), Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya (Chapra), and Nalanda Open University (Patna)—under the PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) scheme. With an allocation of Rs 160 crore, these facilities will benefit 27,000 students, providing advanced labs, hostels, and modern learning spaces.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna to the nation. The state-of-the-art campus, capable of hosting 6,500 students, features a 5G use case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space (in collaboration with ISRO), and an Innovation and Incubation Centre supporting start-ups.

Scholarships and employment generation

As part of the programme, PM Modi will distribute appointment letters to 4,000 newly recruited candidates in the Bihar government and release Rs 450 crore in scholarships via Direct Benefit Transfer to 25 lakh students of Classes 9 and 10 under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.

The multi-dimensional initiatives launched by PM Modi mark a comprehensive approach to youth empowerment, integrating education, skills, and entrepreneurship. With a strong focus on Bihar and national skilling infrastructure, these measures are expected to lay a robust foundation for India’s future workforce and innovation-led growth.