In a major push towards youth empowerment and job creation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil a slew of initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore on October 4 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The announcements are set to transform India’s skilling, education and employment ecosystem, with a special focus on Bihar.
At the centre of the programme will be the launch of PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme involving an investment of ₹60,000 crore. The initiative aims to upgrade 1,000 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into hub-and-spoke clusters. While 200 hubs will serve as centres of excellence with advanced infrastructure, incubation facilities and placement services, 800 spoke ITIs will expand access across the country.
The scheme, co-financed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, will be government-owned but industry-managed, aligning skilling with market demand. Bihar’s Patna and Darbhanga ITIs will receive priority in the first phase.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs across 34 states and Union Territories, set up in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools. Covering 12 high-demand sectors – including IT, automotive, agriculture, electronics and logistics – the labs will be aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, preparing students for early employability. Around 1,200 vocational teachers have been trained to deliver industry-relevant courses.
Bihar-Focused Announcements
Bihar, a state with a young demographic base, will see several transformative projects. Among them –
Revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana: Nearly five lakh graduates will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for two years along with free skill training.
Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme: Redesigned to provide interest-free loans up to ₹4 lakh for higher education. So far, over 3.92 lakh students have availed loans worth ₹7,880 crore.
Bihar Yuva Ayog: A statutory youth commission for people aged 18–45, to channelise the state’s talent into productive avenues.
Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University: Dedicated to imparting industry-oriented courses and vocational education to create a globally competitive workforce.
Academic Boost under PM-USHA: Foundation stones to be laid for modern facilities in four universities—Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (Madhepura), Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya (Chapra) and Nalanda Open University. These projects, worth ₹160 crore, will benefit over 27,000 students.
NIT Patna’s Bihta Campus: With capacity for 6,500 students, the new campus includes a 5G use case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space with ISRO, and an Innovation & Incubation Centre supporting start-ups.
Scholarships and Employment
As part of the event, the Prime Minister will distribute appointment letters to 4,000 new recruits in the Bihar Government. In addition, ₹450 crore in scholarships will be disbursed via DBT to 25 lakh Class 9 and 10 students under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.
National Impact
The programme will also feature the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation, where 46 All India ITI toppers will be felicitated. Collectively, the initiatives are expected to boost employability, entrepreneurship and skill-based education, laying a strong foundation for India’s economic growth.
By integrating skilling with industry demand and ensuring better access to education and training, the initiatives are expected to create lakhs of job opportunities, while positioning Bihar as a hub for skilled manpower and innovation.
