New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched youth-oriented initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event, attended in person and virtually by lakhs of ITI students and teachers, marked another milestone in India’s skilling journey.
The Prime Minister greeted students and educators across the country, especially those from Bihar. He said the government began the practice of holding large-scale convocations for ITI students a few years ago, and today’s programme continues that tradition. According to him, the Samaroh symbolises India’s collective commitment to empower youth through education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Significance for youth and skilling ecosystem
PM Modi said the day was significant not only for ITI graduates but for every young Indian seeking better skills. He underlined the government’s vision of linking education with employability and aligning skilling with modern industry needs.
He announced two major schemes to expand India’s skilling network. Under the ₹60,000 crore PM SETU Yojana, ITIs will be linked more closely with industries, offering practical exposure, updated curricula, and modern equipment. In addition, 1,200 new skill labs were opened in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools to promote hands-on learning.
PM SETU and Skill University in Bihar
The Prime Minister said PM SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skill Enhancement, Training, and Upgradation) would prepare youth for domestic and global jobs. More than 1,000 ITIs will be upgraded with new machinery, industry experts, and technology-enabled courses. “The PM SETU Yojana will bridge India’s youth with global skill demands,” he said.
He described ITIs as “the workshops of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.” Their expansion, he said, reflects India’s effort to shape human capital for industrial self-reliance. Since 2014, the number of ITIs has risen from 10,000 to nearly 15,000, training students in 170 trades. Over 1.5 crore students completed technical courses in the last eleven years.
The Prime Minister said the skilling push has become more inclusive. Courses in local languages now allow students from rural and remote areas to participate. More than 10 lakh students appeared for the All India Trade Test this year.
PM Modi announced a Skill University in Bihar, to be named after Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur. He said the university would advance Thakur’s vision of education and equality.
Education and employment growth in Bihar
The Prime Minister praised Bihar’s role in expanding education. He said infrastructure is growing at IIT Patna, NIT Bihta, Patna University, and Nalanda Open University. He noted that Bihar’s education and employment systems have revived significantly over the past decade.
PM Modi pointed to reforms such as the Student Credit Card Scheme, which makes education loans interest-free, and the doubling of scholarships from ₹1,800 to ₹3,600. He said the Bihar Government’s teacher recruitment drive is among the largest in India, with over 2.5 lakh teachers appointed in two years.
Empowerment and entrepreneurship
PM Modi said Bihar has connected 50 lakh youth with jobs, including nearly 10 lakh in permanent government posts. He promised that the government would create twice as many jobs in the next five years as in the past two decades.
The Prime Minister highlighted women’s empowerment through self-help groups and praised recent programmes focused on female employment. He also mentioned the GST Savings Festival, which reduced two-wheeler prices and brought relief to young consumers.
National skilling and economic growth
The Prime Minister said India’s skilling ecosystem has strengthened since 2014, complementing growth in manufacturing and exports. He recalled that before 2014, India was among the “Fragile Five” economies. Today, it ranks among the top five globally and is moving towards the top three.
He said growth in sectors such as mobile phones, electronics, automobiles, and defence has created jobs for skilled youth. He added that the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana enabled crores of entrepreneurs to start small businesses, while the new Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana will support 3.5 crore youth in private sector jobs.
PM Modi emphasised that India’s young population is its biggest strength. He said reforms like the National Education Policy and the Skill India Mission aim to prepare students for future demands. Urging youth to continue learning and innovating, he said, “There may be alternatives for many things, but there is no substitute for skill, innovation, and hard work.”
Concluding his address, he expressed confidence that skilled youth will define India’s progress toward becoming a Viksit Bharat.
Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary and other dignitaries attended the event at Vigyan Bhawan. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several Union Ministers joined through video conferencing.
