PM Modi will launch youth-focused schemes worth ₹62,000 crore, including PM-SETU, vocational labs, student credit cards, and new institutions in Bihar, to boost education, skilling, entrepreneurship, and employment for India’s young population.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil a series of youth-focused initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore on Saturday, marking a significant step toward strengthening education, skilling, and entrepreneurship opportunities for the country’s young population. The launch event, scheduled at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, will also feature the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation – Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, during which 46 all-India toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be felicitated.
PM-SETU to Transform India’s ITI Ecosystem
At the core of the announcements is the launch of PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme with a staggering investment of ₹60,000 crore. Designed on a hub-and-spoke model, PM-SETU will upgrade 1,000 government ITIs across the country, creating 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs.
Each hub will be linked to an average of four spokes, forming clusters with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, digital learning systems, and incubation facilities. These clusters will be managed by anchor industry partners, ensuring training and outcomes are aligned with market demand.
The hubs will also house innovation centres, production units, placement cells, and trainer development facilities, while the spoke ITIs will focus on expanding access to skilling. With co-financing from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, PM-SETU aims to create a government-owned but industry-managed skilling ecosystem. The first phase will emphasize ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga, setting the foundation for nationwide transformation.
1,200 Vocational Skill Labs Across Schools
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs established across 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in 34 states and Union Territories. These labs are aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and CBSE curriculum, offering training in 12 high-demand sectors such as IT, automotive, agriculture, tourism, electronics, and logistics.
To ensure effective learning delivery, 1,200 vocational teachers have been trained to provide industry-relevant education. The initiative particularly focuses on remote and tribal areas, ensuring that students from marginalized backgrounds gain early exposure to employability-driven skills.
Revamped Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme
In a move to ease financial barriers in higher education, PM Modi will launch the redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, offering interest-free education loans of up to ₹4 lakh. Since its inception, the scheme has benefitted over 3.92 lakh students, with loans amounting to ₹7,880 crore already disbursed. The redesigned version is expected to further strengthen access to quality higher education in Bihar.
New Institutions and Youth Commissions in Bihar
Further strengthening Bihar’s educational and youth empowerment landscape, the Prime Minister will:
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Inaugurate the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a statutory commission for individuals aged 18–45, aimed at channelising the energy of the state’s youth.
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Dedicate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University, designed to offer industry-oriented and vocational courses for a globally competitive workforce.
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Lay foundation stones for new academic and research facilities in four universities across Bihar, with an allocation of ₹160 crore, benefitting more than 27,000 students. These facilities will include advanced laboratories, hostels, and multidisciplinary learning centres.
NIT Patna’s New Bihta Campus
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna, a state-of-the-art facility with the capacity to host 6,500 students. The campus features a 5G use case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space in collaboration with ISRO, and an Innovation and Incubation Centre that has already nurtured nine start-ups.
Direct Support to Students and Job Appointments
To further empower students, PM Modi will release ₹450 crore in scholarships under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme, benefitting nearly 25 lakh students of Classes 9 and 10 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
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Additionally, more than 4,000 newly recruited candidates of the Bihar government will receive appointment letters from the Prime Minister, underscoring the government’s commitment to boosting employment opportunities.
A Transformative Push for India’s Youth
With a combined focus on skilling, education, entrepreneurship, and institutional capacity building, these announcements mark a decisive push towards empowering India’s youth. By integrating industry participation, modern infrastructure, and direct student support, the government aims to create a globally competitive workforce and pave the way for sustainable economic growth.
