New Delhi, Oct 3 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil a range of youth-centric initiatives with an investment exceeding Rs 62,000 crore on Saturday, marking a significant advancement in education, skill development, and entrepreneurship for the youth across the nation.

The launch event for this youth initiative at Vigyan Bhawan will also include the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, the fourth edition of the National Skill Convocation. This event, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision, will honor 46 national toppers from Industrial Training Institutes under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as stated by the PMO on Friday.

The Prime Minister will introduce PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored initiative with a substantial investment of Rs 60,000 crore. This scheme aims to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs nationwide, using a hub-and-spoke model consisting of 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will connect to an average of four spokes, forming clusters that feature advanced infrastructure, modern trades, digital learning systems, and incubation facilities, according to the statement.

Industry partners will oversee these clusters, ensuring that skill development aligns with market needs. Hubs will also contain innovation centers, training-of-trainers facilities, production units, and placement services, while spokes will focus on improving access. Collectively, PM-SETU is set to transform India’s ITI landscape, making it government-owned yet industry-managed, with global co-financing from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The first phase will particularly emphasize ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga.

PM Modi will also launch 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs established in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 34 states and Union Territories. These labs will provide students, including those in remote and tribal areas, with practical training in 12 high-demand sectors such as IT, automotive, agriculture, electronics, logistics, and tourism. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and CBSE curriculum, also involving the training of 1,200 vocational teachers to deliver industry-relevant learning and establish an early foundation for employability, as the PMO noted.

A key focus of the program will be on transformative projects in Bihar, showcasing the state’s rich heritage and youthful demographic. The Prime Minister will launch the revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, which will provide nearly five lakh young graduates annually with a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for two years, alongside free skill training.

Additionally, he will unveil the redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, which will offer completely interest-free education loans of up to Rs 4 lakh, significantly alleviating the financial burdens associated with higher education. Over 3.92 lakh students have already benefited from loans exceeding Rs 7,880 crore under this scheme.

To further bolster youth empowerment in the state, the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a statutory commission for individuals aged 18 to 45, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister to channel and harness the energies of the youth.

Moreover, he will inaugurate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, aimed at providing industry-oriented courses and vocational education to cultivate a globally competitive workforce.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for new academic and research facilities in four universities of Bihar: Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University in Madhepura, Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya in Chapra, and Nalanda Open University in Patna, under the PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan). Together, these projects, with a total budget of Rs 160 crore, will benefit over 27,000 students by enhancing academic infrastructure, advanced laboratories, hostels, and multidisciplinary learning.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna to the nation. This campus is capable of accommodating 6,500 students and features advanced facilities, including a 5G use case lab, a Regional Academic Centre for Space in collaboration with ISRO, and an Innovation and Incubation Centre that has already supported nine start-ups.

PM Modi will also distribute appointment letters to over 4,000 newly recruited candidates of the Bihar government and release Rs 450 crore in scholarships through Direct Benefit Transfer to 25 lakh students of Class 9 and 10 under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.