Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a diverse set of youth-focused initiatives worth Rs. 62,000 crore on October 4 during Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The youth-centric Programmes are considered as a milestone chapter in the empowerment of the youth of the country. The initiatives revolve around skill development, innovation, nurturing entrepreneurship skills, strengthening the technical and vocational education apparatus, upgradation of the higher education system etc.
With these visionary initiatives Prime Minister affirmed to make India the epicenter of knowledge, skill and intellectual strength. Most importantly, the schemes are deemed as a launchpad to seek self-reliance or Atmanirbharta in education.
With a strong focus on skilling and innovation, our government is preparing the Yuva Shakti to lead the future. Speaking at the launch of youth-centric initiatives in Delhi. https://t.co/kiAbStpTP4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 4, 2025
PM SETU-A hub-and-spoke model for technical education
PM SETU stands for Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgrading ITIs. It is a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of Rs. 60,000 crore. It aims to upgrade 1000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model. The ITIs will be robustly integrated with the industries. Additionally, 1,200 skill labs will be developed across the country at Navodaya Vidyalayas and Ekalavya Model schools. These skill labs will render training for high-demand sectors including agriculture, IT, logistics, trade, tourism etc. With this initiative the aim is to up-skill the youth as per the industry demands and standards and bridgethe vital gaps.
Upgrading the ITIs
Prime Minister also spoke about the need to revolutionize local talent, local resources and local skills for the comprehensive development of the country. In this mission, the role of ITIs is paramount. “India’s ITIs are not only premier institutions for industrial education but also serve as workshops for building an Atmanirbhar Bharat”, said the Prime Minister.
With this vision, ITIs in a region will be developed into clusters and each cluster will be equipped with digital learning systems, incubation facilities, placement services and other state-of-the-art infrastructure. These clusters will be managed by the industry partners and ITI network is being prepared to meet current industry skill requirements and also anticipate future demands over the next ten years. Thus, ITIs will emerge as the government-owned, industry-managed educational ecosystem where financial assistance for the development and upgradation will flow from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank(ADB).
During the event at Vigyan Bhawan, Prime Minister also spoke about how India rose from ‘fragile five’ economies to top five economies of the world. He said that with significant progress in manufacturing and employment, India is climbing to be one among the top three economies of the globe. He also hailed the remarkable feat achieved by India in the export market with respect to mobile phones, electronics, automobiles and even the drastic defence exports. He exclaimed that this growth in the MSMEs, manufacturing and export market will largely benefit the youth of the country, especially those from the ITIs, who are specialized with technical skills, demanded by the manufacturing sector.
He ultimately expressed confidence and hope in the strength of the country’s youth. He affirmed that the strength of the youth will translate as the strength of Viksit Bharat.
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