With an eye on the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 4 transformed the 4th edition of the National Skill Convocation at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi into a Bihar-centric political showcase, rolling out a slew of announcements tailored for the state’s youth.
While billed as a convocation for skill development, the event carried strong political undertones, with Modi’s announcements positioned to resonate with Bihar’s youth ahead of the state elections. By tying governance achievements to Nitish Kumar’s leadership and centring the programme around Bihar-specific initiatives, the convocation doubled as both a policy platform and a campaign rallying point.
Sharing the stage with Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar (who joined virtually), his long-time ally in Bihar, the Prime Minister credited the elevation of the event to Kumar’s leadership and pledged “a brighter future for Bihar’s youth” through a series of
Among the major highlights was the establishment of the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University in Bihar, named after the Bharat Ratna awardee known for championing social justice and education for disadvantaged communities. The Prime Minister also announced the expansion of facilities at IIT Patna, NIT Bihta, Patna University, Bhupendra Mandal University, Jai Prakash University (Chhapra), and Nalanda Open University.
Expressing satisfaction that Bihar has received a new Skill, the PM noted that the government led by Shri 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.
He further unveiled the formation of a new Youth Commission, the distribution of appointment letters for thousands of permanent government jobs, and an expansion of student welfare schemes, including:
- Interest-free student loans under the Student Credit Card scheme.
- Doubling of student scholarships from ₹1,800 to ₹3,600.
- Modi also highlighted infrastructure upgrades across Bihar’s educational and sports institutions, the sanctioning of Kendriya Vidyalayas in 19 districts, and the growth of medical and engineering colleges in the state.
In his address, Modi contrasted Bihar’s current trajectory with what he described as the “derailed education system” of the past. He recalled how, “two to two-and-a-half decades ago, schools were not opened sincerely, nor were recruitments conducted,” forcing lakhs of students to migrate to Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities for education.
Drawing a sharp comparison, he likened the state’s condition under the opposition to a “tree whose roots had been infested,” and credited Nitish Kumar’s governance for restoring the system.
The Prime Minister underscored Bihar’s progress in education and employment over the last two decades, noting that 50 lakh youth have been linked to jobs, with nearly 10 lakh permanent government jobs created in recent years. In the education sector alone, he said 2.5 lakh teachers had been recruited in the last two years.
Looking ahead, Modi announced that Bihar’s new target was to double employment opportunities within five years.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, the Prime Minister recalled a recent large-scale programme in Bihar focused on employment and self-reliance for women, which saw participation from lakhs of women. “Today’s event for youth empowerment further reflects the priority our government accords to Bihar’s youth and women,” he said.
