R ARIVANANTHAM
NEW DELHI, OCT 4
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, launching a series of youth-focused initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore aimed at empowering India’s students and workforce with education, skills, and employment opportunities.
Calling India a “nation of knowledge and skill,” the Prime Minister declared that this intellectual strength is the country’s “greatest power.” He emphasized that when the strength of the youth increases, the strength of the nation multiplies.
- At Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, Prime Minister unveils youth-centric initiatives worth ₹62,000 crore, launches PM-SETU to link Indian talent with global opportunities
- India is a country of knowledge and skill, this intellectual strength is our greatest power: PM
- ITIs are not only premier institutions of industrial education, they are also the workshops of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat: PM
- The PM-SETU Yojana will connect India’s youth with the world’s skill demands: PM
Unveiling the PM-SETU Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), the Prime Minister said the scheme will upgrade 1,000 ITIs across India with modern trades, advanced labs, industry-driven curricula, and global partnerships. “PM-SETU will connect India’s youth with the world’s skill demands,” he stated.
The event also saw the inauguration of 1,200 skill labs in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools across the country, bringing industry-ready learning to even the remotest corners.
Special emphasis was placed on Bihar, where the Prime Minister announced a new Skill Training University named after Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur Ji, along with interest-free student loans, increased scholarships, and large-scale recruitment drives. “Karpoori Thakur Ji devoted his entire life to education and social service. This university will carry forward his vision,” Shri Modi said.
Highlighting ITIs as “workshops of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” the Prime Minister noted that in the past decade, their numbers have risen from 10,000 to nearly 15,000, offering training in 170 trades. He lauded the contribution of rural youth, women, and Divyang students, many of whom received recognition during the ceremony.
Underscoring the transformative power of skilling, Shri Modi reminded that before 2014 India was counted among the “Fragile Five” economies, while today it is poised to become a top three global economy, driven by youth-led growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, and defence.
“While many things may have substitutes, there is no substitute for skill, innovation, and hard work. And these are the hallmarks of India’s youth,” the Prime Minister concluded, extending his best wishes to the next generation.
