India is a country of knowledge and skill, intellectual strength is our greatest power: Modi launching youth-focused initiatives worth over Rs. 62,000 cr

Extending greetings to lakhs of students associated with ITIs across the country, as well as the students and teachers of Bihar, the Prime Minister recalled that a few years ago, the government initiated a new tradition of organizing large-scale convocation ceremonies for ITI students. He remarked that today marks another milestone in that tradition.

The Prime Minister stated that today’s ceremony symbolizes the priority India accords to skill development.

He announced the launch of two major initiatives for youth across the country in the fields of education and skill development.

Modi highlighted that under the ₹60,000 crore PM SETU scheme, ITIs will now be more robustly integrated with industries. He further informed that 1,200 skill labs have been inaugurated today across Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools nationwide.

Modi shared that the initial plan for the event was to hold a convocation ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan.

However, as he remarked, it turned into a grand celebration—“a case of gold adorned with embellishment”—with the proposal from Nitish Kumar to elevate the occasion into a mega-festival.

The Prime Minister highlighted that several schemes and projects have been dedicated to the youth of Bihar from this very platform.

These include the establishment of a new Skill Training University in Bihar, expansion of facilities in other universities, the formation of a new Youth Commission, and the issuance of appointment letters for permanent government jobs to thousands of young individuals. He affirmed that these initiatives are a guarantee for a brighter future for Bihar’s youth.

Recalling the recent large-scale programme focused on employment and self-reliance for the women of Bihar, which witnessed participation from lakhs of sisters, Modi remarked that today’s mega programme for youth empowerment in Bihar further reflects the priority their government accords to the youth and women of the state.

Emphasising that India is a nation of knowledge and skill, and this intellectual strength is its greatest asset, the Prime Minister remarked that when skills and knowledge align with national needs and contribute to fulfilling them, their impact multiplies manifold.

He highlighted that the demand of the 21st century is to rapidly advance local talent, local resources, local skills, and local knowledge in accordance with the country’s requirements.

Underscoring the significant role of thousands of ITIs in this mission, Modi remarked that currently, ITIs offer training in nearly 170 trades, and over the past 11 years, more than 1.5 crore youth have been trained in these disciplines, gaining technical qualifications across diverse sectors.

He noted with pride that these skills are imparted in local languages, enabling better understanding and accessibility. This year, over 10 lakh students participated in the All India Trade Test, and the Prime Minister had the opportunity to felicitate more than forty-five of them during the event.

The Prime Minister expressed pride in the moment, noting that a large number of the awardees hail from rural and remote parts of India. He highlighted the presence of daughters and Divyang companions among them, and commended their hard-earned success through dedication and perseverance.

"India’s ITIs are not only premier institutions for industrial education but also serve as workshops for building an Atmanirbhar Bharat," exclaimed the Prime Minister emphasising that the government is focused on both increasing the number of ITIs and continuously upgrading them. He noted that until 2014, there were only 10,000 ITIs in the country, but in the past decade, nearly 5,000 new ITIs have been established.

Modi highlighted that the ITI network is being prepared to meet current industry skill requirements and anticipate future demands over the next ten years.

To strengthen this alignment, coordination between industry and ITIs is being enhanced.

He announced the launch of the PM SETU scheme, which will benefit over 1,000 ITI institutions across India. Through this initiative, ITIs will be upgraded with new machinery, industry training experts, and curricula tailored to present and future skill demands.

"The PM SETU scheme will also connect Indian youth with global skill requirements," stated Modi.

Noting that thousands of youth from Bihar have joined today’s programme, Shri Modi remarked that this generation may not fully grasp how the education system in Bihar was devastated two to two-and-a-half decades ago. Schools were not opened sincerely, nor were recruitments conducted.

The Prime Minister emphasized that every parent wishes for their child to study and progress locally. However, due to compulsion, lakhs of children had to leave Bihar and migrate to places like Banaras, Delhi, and Mumbai. He identified this as the true beginning of migration.

Modi remarked that reviving a tree whose roots have been infested is a formidable feat, and likened the condition of Bihar under opposition’s misgovernance to such a tree.

He stated that fortunately, the people of Bihar entrusted Nitish Kumar with the responsibility of governance, and the entire team of the coalition government worked collectively to restore the derailed systems. The Prime Minister affirmed that today’s programme offers a glimpse of that transformation.

Expressing satisfaction that Bihar has received a new Skill University during today’s Kaushal Convocation Ceremony, the PM noted that the government led by Nitish Kumar has named the university after Bharat Ratna Jananayak Karpoori Thakur.

Modi highlighted that Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur dedicated his entire life to public service and the expansion of education, consistently advocating for the upliftment of the most disadvantaged sections of society. He affirmed that the Skill University named in his honour will serve as a powerful medium to advance that very vision.

The Prime Minister stated that their governments at Center and State are consistently working to modernize Bihar’s educational institutions. He informed that infrastructure expansion has commenced at IIT Patna, and the modernization of several major educational institutions across Bihar has also begun.

Modi announced that the Bihta campus of NIT Patna has now been opened for talented students. Additionally, he highlighted that new academic infrastructure foundations have been laid at Patna University, Bhupendra Mandal University, Jai Prakash University in Chhapra, and Nalanda Open University.

Highlighting that alongside strengthening educational institutions, the government led by Shri Nitish Kumar is actively working to reduce the financial burden of education for Bihar’s youth, Modi noted that efforts are being made to ensure students do not face difficulties in paying fees for higher education.

He stated that the Bihar Government has been supporting students through the Student Credit Card scheme, and a major decision has now been taken to make the education loans under this scheme interest-free. Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that student scholarships have been increased from ₹1,800 to ₹3,600.

"India is among the world’s youngest nations, and Bihar is one of the states with the highest proportion of youth," remarked the Prime Minister, emphasizing that when the potential of Bihar’s youth grows, the strength of the nation increases.

He affirmed that their government is working with full commitment to further empower Bihar’s youth.

Modi further highlighted that compared to the Opposition government in the past, Bihar’s education budget has been increased manifold. Today, nearly every village and hamlet in Bihar has a school, and the number of engineering and medical colleges has also grown significantly. He informed that the Central Government has recently approved Kendriya Vidyalayas for 19 districts in Bihar.

The Prime Minister recalled that there was a time when Bihar lacked international-level sports infrastructure, but today, national and international sports events are being held in the state.

Highlighting that over the past two decades, the Bihar Government has connected 50 lakh youth with employment opportunities within the state,

Modi noted that in recent years alone, nearly 10 lakh permanent government jobs have been provided to Bihar’s youth.

He pointed to the education department as a prime example, where large-scale recruitment of teachers is underway.

He informed that in the last two years, more than 2.5 lakh teachers have been appointed in Bihar, resulting in both employment for youth and a significant improvement in the quality of the education system.

Underlining that the Bihar Government is now working with new targets, Modi highlighted that the state aims to create twice as many employment opportunities in the next five years as were generated over the past two decades.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the resolve is clear—Bihar’s youth should find jobs and work within Bihar itself.

The Prime Minister remarked that this is a time of double bonus for the youth of Bihar.

He highlighted the ongoing GST Savings Festival across the country and shared that he was informed about the happiness among Bihar’s youth due to reduced GST on bikes and scooters.

Many young individuals have even planned to make these purchases during Dhanteras. Modi extended his congratulations to the youth of Bihar and the nation for the reduction in GST on most of their essential items.

"As skills grow, the nation becomes self-reliant, exports increase, and employment opportunities expand," remarked the Prime Minister.

He recalled that before 2014, India was labelled among the "Fragile Five" economies, marked by low growth and limited job creation. Today, India is progressing towards becoming a top-three global economy, with significant growth in manufacturing and employment.

Modi highlighted unprecedented growth in manufacturing and exports in sectors such as mobile phones, electronics, automobiles, and defence. He noted that this surge has led to remarkable job creation across large industries and MSMEs, greatly benefiting the youth, including those trained in ITIs.

He emphasized that the Mudra Scheme has helped crores of young people start their own ventures. Additionally, the Prime Minister announced the implementation of the ₹1 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, which will assist approximately 3.5 crore youth in securing employment in the private sector.

Affirming that this is a time filled with opportunities for every youth in the country, the Prime Minister  emphasized that while alternatives may exist for many things, there is no substitute for skill, innovation, and hard work.

The Prime Minister concluded by remarking with conviction that all these qualities reside within India’s youth, and their strength will become the strength of a Viksit Bharat and extended his heartfelt best wishes to all.

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary was present among other dignitaries at the event.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Jual Oram, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Sukanta Majumdar and other dignitaries had connected to the event through video conferencing.

(Photos: PIB)