PM Modi to Unveil ₹62,000-Crore Youth Skilling and Education Push on October 4

India’s young workforce is often hailed as the country’s biggest strength. Now, the government is taking one of its most ambitious steps to prepare this demographic dividend for the future. On October 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a slew of youth-centric initiatives worth more than ₹62,000 crore at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi—an announcement that could significantly reshape the nation’s skilling and education ecosystem.

At the heart of this mega programme lies a clear vision: to bridge the gap between education and employment, and to align skilling with the needs of modern industry. And while the initiatives will have a pan-India impact, Bihar stands out as a special focus area, with a string of state-specific projects aimed at empowering its large young population.

The Big Centrepiece: PM-SETU

The flagship announcement will be the launch of PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme with a massive investment of ₹60,000 crore.

Here’s how it will work:

• 1,000 Government ITIs will be upgraded into hub-and-spoke clusters.

• 200 hubs will become state-of-the-art centres of excellence equipped with advanced infrastructure, incubation facilities, and placement services.

• 800 spoke ITIs will extend the reach of skill-based education to smaller towns and districts.

• Importantly, while the scheme will remain government-owned, it will be managed by industry partners, ensuring that training is aligned with real market demand.

The project is co-financed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, underlining its global credibility. Bihar’s ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga will be among the first to benefit under the initial rollout.

Skilling Gets a Head Start in Schools

In a step that ties directly into the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs across 34 states and Union Territories. These labs, set up in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools, will expose school students to skill training from an early age.

The focus will be on 12 high-demand sectors such as IT, automotive, agriculture, electronics, and logistics. Around 1,200 vocational teachers have already been trained to teach these industry-aligned courses.

This push ensures that students graduate not just with academic knowledge, but also with the employable skills that can make them job-ready much earlier.

Bihar in Focus: Tailor-Made Youth Programmes

For Bihar, which has one of the youngest populations in the country, the announcements bring a bouquet of transformative measures:

• Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana: Nearly 5 lakh graduates will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for two years, alongside free skill training.

• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme: Redesigned to provide interest-free loans up to ₹4 lakh for higher education. To date, 3.92 lakh students have already availed loans worth ₹7,880 crore.

• Bihar Yuva Ayog: A statutory youth commission for people aged 18–45 years to channel young energy into productive employment avenues.

• Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University: A new university to focus exclusively on industry-driven courses and vocational education.

• Academic Boost under PM-USHA: Foundation stones will 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 New Bihta Campus: Designed for 6,500 students, the new campus will house a 5G use-case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space with ISRO, and an Innovation & Incubation Centre to support start-ups.

Jobs, Scholarships, and New Opportunities

The October 4 event will also directly impact thousands of young people in Bihar. The Prime Minister will distribute appointment letters to 4,000 new government recruits in the state.

Additionally, ₹450 crore in scholarships will be transferred via DBT to 25 lakh Class 9 and 10 students under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.

On the national stage, the programme will host the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation, where 46 All India ITI toppers will be felicitated for their achievements.

Building the Workforce of the Future

Taken together, these initiatives mark one of the largest coordinated pushes for youth empowerment in recent years. By integrating skilling with industry demand, expanding access to vocational education, and supporting students financially, the government is aiming to create lakhs of job opportunities and fuel entrepreneurship.

For Bihar, in particular, the measures could be transformative—turning the state into a hub for skilled manpower and innovation.

As India continues to project itself as a global economic powerhouse, these investments in human capital could prove to be the backbone of sustained growth.