Patna/New Delhi: In a landmark event celebrating the spirit of India’s young workforce, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a slew of education and skill development initiatives aimed at empowering the country’s youth. Speaking at the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the Prime Minister launched the ₹60,000 crore PM Setu Scheme and inaugurated 1,200 Skill Labs across Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools. The ceremony, which also marked the convocation of lakhs of ITI trainees across India, was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several Union Ministers.
Calling it “a proud day for Bharat’s skilled youth,” Modi said the event symbolised New India’s commitment to dignity of labour and nation-building through skill. “Skill is not a fallback option. It’s a pathway to success,” he said, urging the youth to take pride in their professions and recognise the immense value of technical education.
A New Era for Skill Development
The Prime Minister emphasised that the PM Setu Scheme will serve as a bridge connecting India’s youth with the global skill economy. Under the scheme, over 1,000 ITIs across the country will be upgraded with modern equipment and updated curricula designed in collaboration with industry partners. “We’re ensuring that ITIs not only keep up with the needs of the industry today but also anticipate the demands of the next decade,” Modi said.
Highlighting the massive expansion of skill infrastructure under his government, the Prime Minister noted that India had about 10,000 ITIs till 2014, but another 5,000 have been established in just the past ten years. “These ITIs are not just industrial training centres; they are workshops of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.
Bihar at the Forefront
The event in Patna turned into a double celebration for Bihar, with several new projects unveiled for the state’s youth. These include the establishment of a new Skill Training University named after Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, expansion of facilities across major universities, creation of a Youth Commission, and the distribution of appointment letters to thousands of new government employees.
“Karpoori Thakur ji earned the title of Jan Nayak through selfless service, not through slogans or social media. This university named in his honour will realise his dream of empowering the weakest sections of society,” Modi said, cautioning against “political attempts to appropriate his legacy.”
The Prime Minister lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s efforts to rebuild Bihar’s education system after decades of decay. “There was a time when schools rarely opened, teachers weren’t recruited, and students were forced to migrate for basic education. Today, that story is changing,” he said.
Empowering Youth and Women Together
Referring to his recent participation in a massive women’s employment programme in Bihar, Modi said that both youth and women are central to the NDA Government’s development agenda. “Bharat’s growth story is powered by its young minds and its empowered sisters,” he declared.
He highlighted the Bihar Government’s Student Credit Card scheme, now made interest-free, and the increase in scholarships from ₹1,800 to ₹3,600 as part of efforts to make higher education affordable. “We’re ensuring that no student in Bihar has to give up education because of financial constraints,” he said.
Expanding Education and Employment
The Prime Minister outlined how Bihar’s educational infrastructure is being modernised with new campuses and facilities at IIT Patna, NIT Bihta, Patna University, and Nalanda Open University. The Central Government has also approved new Kendriya Vidyalayas in 19 districts of Bihar.
Over the past two decades, the Bihar Government has provided employment to 50 lakh young people, with 10 lakh secure government jobs created in the last few years alone. “In just the past two years, over 2.5 lakh teachers have been recruited in Bihar. This has strengthened not only education but also the confidence of our youth,” Modi said.
The Chief Minister’s target for the next five years, Modi revealed, is to double job creation compared to the past twenty years, ensuring that Bihar’s youth find employment in their home state rather than migrating elsewhere.
From Fragile Five to Top Three
The Prime Minister also reflected on India’s economic turnaround. “Before 2014, Bharat was counted among the ‘Fragile Five’. Today, it’s poised to become one of the world’s top three economies,” he said. He credited this transformation to the surge in manufacturing, exports, and employment generation across sectors such as electronics, automobiles, mobile phones, and defence.
Schemes like MUDRA Yojana and the newly announced PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, with an allocation of ₹1 lakh crore, are creating millions of private-sector jobs. “This will help 3.5 crore young Indians secure meaningful employment,” he said.
Global Demand for Indian Talent
The Prime Minister underscored how countries around the world now look to India for skilled manpower. “Every international agreement India signs today includes cooperation on skilled workforce. The world recognises Bharat’s youth as disciplined, capable, and innovative,” he said.
Encouraging ITI students to seize these opportunities, he urged them to focus on innovation and hard work. “There can be alternatives for many things in life, but there is no substitute for skill, innovation, and hard work,” Modi said.
A Future Built on Skill and Self-Belief
Concluding his address, Modi congratulated the students and the people of Bihar for the new initiatives, calling the day “a festival of youth empowerment.”
“When skills grow, a nation grows. When the youth are confident, the country becomes unstoppable,” he said. “The collective energy of Bharat’s young minds will be the engine that drives Viksit Bharat.”
With the sound of applause resonating across the venue and lakhs of ITI trainees connected virtually from across the country, the message was clear — India’s youth are no longer job seekers; they are the creators of tomorrow’s opportunities.