PM Modi Unveils ₹62,000 Crore Youth-Focused Programs, Including PM-SETU And Bihar Schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a series of youth-focused initiatives in New Delhi valued at over ₹62,000 crore, aimed at strengthening education, skill development, and entrepreneurship across India.

A centerpiece of the announcements was PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of ₹60,000 crore. The scheme plans to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs under a hub-and-spoke model, comprising 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will connect with an average of four spoke ITIs, creating clusters equipped with modern infrastructure, advanced trades, digital learning platforms, and incubation facilities.

Industry partners will anchor these clusters, ensuring outcome-based skilling aligned with market demand. The hubs will include innovation centres, training-of-trainers facilities, production units, and placement services, while spokes will focus on expanding access to skill development.

Boosting Opportunities for India's Youth

The initiatives are expected to provide extensive opportunities for India's young population by integrating education, skill development, entrepreneurship, and modern infrastructure, thereby laying a solid foundation for national progress. Bihar, in particular, is set to emerge as a hub for skilled manpower, contributing to both regional and national growth.

Special Focus on Bihar Ahead of Polls

With Bihar heading towards elections, PM Modi launched the revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, under which nearly 5 lakh graduate youth annually will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for two years, coupled with free skill training. He also unveiled the redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, offering fully interest-free education loans of up to ₹4 lakh, easing the financial burden of higher education. So far, over 3.92 lakh students have benefited from loans exceeding ₹7,880 crore under this scheme.

To further empower Bihar's youth, the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a statutory commission for individuals aged 18 to 45, was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister to channelize and harness the energy of the state's young population.

Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, designed to offer industry-oriented courses and vocational education, aiming to cultivate a globally competitive workforce.