New Delhi, October 4, 2025: In a landmark effort to strengthen India’s youth and skill ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled multiple initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh held at Vigyan Bhawan. The event, attended by thousands of students, teachers, and policymakers, marked the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, aimed at transforming India’s industrial training network into a globally competitive skill hub.
The ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU scheme will upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country under a hub-and-spoke model — with 200 hub ITIs linked to 800 spoke ITIs — integrating modern trades, digital learning, and incubation facilities. “The PM-SETU Yojana will connect India’s youth with global skill requirements,” the Prime Minister stated, emphasizing that the initiative would make the ITI system government-owned but industry-managed with support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
In his address, PM Modi reaffirmed that India’s intellectual strength—its knowledge and skill—is its greatest power, and that the youth are the cornerstone of a Viksit Bharat. He praised the role of ITIs in nation-building, describing them as “workshops of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.” The Prime Minister noted that since 2014, nearly 5,000 new ITIs have been established, bringing the total to 15,000 nationwide.
Alongside PM-SETU, Modi inaugurated 1,200 vocational skill labs in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools across India, providing hands-on training in high-demand sectors like IT, automotive, logistics, and tourism. These labs, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, aim to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry readiness.
The Prime Minister also announced a series of education and employment reforms in Bihar, including the launch of the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University and the redesign of the Student Credit Card Scheme, now offering interest-free loans of up to ₹4 lakh. He also declared an increase in student scholarships from ₹1,800 to ₹3,600 and inaugurated new academic infrastructure at four major universities under the PM-USHA scheme, benefiting over 27,000 students.
Reflecting on Bihar’s transformation, Modi lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s efforts to rebuild the state’s education system after decades of decline. He said, “When the strength of the youth increases, the nation grows stronger,” adding that Bihar aims to double employment opportunities in the next five years.
The event also witnessed the distribution of appointment letters to over 4,000 newly recruited candidates and the disbursal of ₹450 crore in scholarships to 25 lakh students under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.
Emphasizing the broader vision, Modi underlined that India’s manufacturing and export growth — in sectors such as electronics, automobiles, and defence — is driving new employment avenues. He further announced the ₹1-lakh-crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, expected to help 3.5 crore youth secure private-sector employment.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said,
While there may be alternatives for many things, there is no substitute for skill, innovation, and hard work. These qualities reside in India’s youth, and their strength will become the strength of a developed India.”
