As Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to announce a significant initiative aimed at empowering the state's youth. The centerpiece of this announcement is a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for approximately 5 lakh graduates in Bihar, coupled with free skill training. This initiative forms part of a larger package exceeding ₹62,000 crore, focused on education, skill development, and entrepreneurship for young individuals.
The revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana will provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for two years to nearly five lakh graduate youth, along with free skill training, every year. The redesigned Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme will offer interest-free education loans of up to ₹4 lakh, easing the path to higher education. In addition, the Bihar Yuva Ayog, a statutory commission for people aged 18 to 45, will be formally inaugurated to empower the state's youth. PM will also inaugurate the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, envisioned as a centre for industry-oriented and vocational education.
The Prime Minister will also launch PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of Rs. 60,000 crore. The scheme envisages the upgradation of 1,000 government ITIs across the country in a hub-and-spoke model comprising 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will be connected to four spokes on average, creating clusters equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, digital learning systems and incubation facilities.
Furthermore, PM Modi will dedicate the Bihta campus of NIT Patna to the nation. The campus, accommodating 6,500 students, boasts advanced facilities, including a 5G use-case lab, a regional academic center for space in collaboration with ISRO, and an incubation hub already supporting several start-ups. Appointment letters will be distributed to over 4,000 newly recruited candidates in the Bihar government, and ₹450 crore in scholarships will be released via direct benefit transfer to 25 lakh students in Classes 9 and 10 under the Mukhyamantri Balak/Balika Scholarship Scheme.
Under the PM-Usha (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan), the foundation stone will be laid for new academic and research facilities at four universities in Bihar: Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University in Madhepura, Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya in Chapra, and Nalanda Open University in Patna. These projects, with a combined allocation of ₹160 crore, are expected to benefit over 27,000 students.
These initiatives are strategically aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and the CBSE curriculum. They include training 1,200 vocational teachers to deliver industry-relevant learning, fostering early employability skills. A key focus will be on transformative projects within Bihar, acknowledging the state's heritage and its young population.
Political activity has been ramping up in anticipation of the Bihar elections, with major leaders from both the NDA and I.N.D.I.A. bloc scheduling visits and rallies. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also expected to play a significant role, focusing on strengthening the BJP's position in the state. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has criticized the timing of the announced benefits, questioning why such measures weren't implemented earlier if the ruling alliance had been in power for an extended period. She has also presented alternative proposals for women's empowerment, including land ownership for landless families.
