CM Majhi backs PMKVY, skill schemes for Odisha youth
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 25 July 2026 highlighted PMKVY and PM-SETU as central pillars of the BJP's 'double engine' effort to equip the state's youth with skills, certification, and employment opportunities aligned with modern industry demands.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted on 25 July 2026 praising the Centre-state 'double engine' model for youth skilling in Odisha .
He specifically named PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) and PM-SETU as key delivery mechanisms.
PMKVY was launched in 2015 under the Skill India mission to provide vocational training and industry-recognised certification.
Odisha has been BJP-governed since June 2024 , when Majhi became the state's first BJP Chief Minister.
The post frames a skilled youth workforce as the 'greatest strength' of both a developed India and a prosperous Odisha.
Rollout of additional training centres and placement data from Odisha districts will be the key near-term indicator of programme impact.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday, 25 July 2026, credited the 'double engine' government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for connecting the state's youth with skills, confidence, and new employment opportunities through central flagship schemes.
Context
Posting in Odia, CM Majhi stated: 'ଦକ୍ଷ ଯୁବଶକ୍ତି ହିଁ ବିକଶିତ ଭାରତ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସବୁଠାରୁ ବଡ଼ ଶକ୍ତି' — 'A skilled youth force is the greatest strength of a developed India and a prosperous Odisha.' He specifically named the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and PM-SETU as vehicles for delivering training, skill certification, and improved employment prospects aligned with modern industry needs.
The post underscores the BJP's 'double engine' governance narrative — the idea that a BJP government at both the Centre and the state enables faster, more coordinated delivery of welfare and development programmes.
Policy Backdrop
PMKVY was launched in 2015 as the centrepiece of the Skill India mission, aimed at providing industry-relevant vocational training and recognised certification to millions of young Indians. The scheme has gone through successive phases, expanding its sectoral coverage and emphasis on placement linkages.
Odisha joined the BJP-governed states in June 2024, when Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as the state's first-ever BJP Chief Minister. Since then, the state government has sought to align its skill and employment agenda with centrally sponsored schemes, positioning this coordination as a key dividend of the election outcome.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of PMKVY are school dropouts, young job-seekers, and workers seeking formal skill certification — a demographic that is significant in Odisha, where a large share of the labour force remains in the informal economy. Skill certification under the scheme improves access to organised-sector employment and apprenticeships.
Industry bodies and sector skill councils that partner with PMKVY training centres also stand to gain from a larger pool of certified, job-ready candidates. For the state government, higher enrolment and placement numbers serve as visible governance deliverables ahead of future electoral cycles.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the on-ground rollout of additional PMKVY training centres across Odisha districts and the publication of placement outcome data. The pace at which certified youth are absorbed by industry will be the clearest measure of whether the 'double engine' coordination translates into tangible employment gains.
With Viksit Bharat (Developed India) set as the overarching national goal for 2047, state-level delivery of skill programmes like PMKVY will increasingly be scrutinised as a barometer of progress toward that target.
Point of View
Verifiable schemes like PMKVY rather than vague promises, the communication attempts to ground electoral rhetoric in policy substance. The timing, coming more than two years into Majhi's tenure, suggests the government is now keen to show delivery outcomes rather than just intent. Whether Odisha's on-ground skilling numbers bear out the narrative will determine how durable this messaging proves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PMKVY and how does it benefit Odisha youth?
PMKVY, or Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, is a central government scheme launched in 2015 that provides free, industry-relevant vocational training and skill certification to youth. In Odisha, it aims to improve employment prospects for young job-seekers and school dropouts by linking them to organised-sector jobs and apprenticeships.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi say about skill development?
On 25 July 2026, CM Majhi posted in Odia stating that the 'double engine' government under PM Modi is continuously working to connect youth with skills, confidence, and new employment opportunities through schemes like PMKVY and PM-SETU, calling a skilled youth force the greatest strength of a developed India and prosperous Odisha.
What is the 'double engine' government concept the BJP promotes?
The 'double engine' government concept refers to the BJP's argument that having the same party in power at both the central and state level enables faster, more coordinated delivery of welfare and development schemes, as both engines pull in the same direction.
When did Mohan Charan Majhi become Chief Minister of Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024, becoming the state's first BJP Chief Minister after the party won the state assembly election that year.
What is PM-SETU mentioned by CM Majhi?
PM-SETU was cited by CM Majhi alongside PMKVY as an initiative for youth skilling and employment. Specific operational details of PM-SETU have not been independently verified from established public records at the time of this report.
