Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Short Term Employability Programme (STEP) in Maharashtra, a major initiative designed to equip the state’s youth with industry-relevant and employment-oriented skills.

The state’s Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation will implement the programme, targeting 75,000 students in its first year and scaling up to around 1 lakh trainees in 2026. STEP will operate across 2,506 units set up in 419 government industrial training institutes (ITIs) and 141 government technical schools, offering courses tailored to local demand and public interest.

The initiative emphasizes decentralised skill education, with local institution management committees overseeing course planning, execution, and quality control. Its core objective is to provide modern training aligned with evolving industry requirements, while also fostering self-employment opportunities for rural youth and women.

Admissions are entirely online via admission.dvet.gov.in, with fees ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month. About 25% of seats are reserved for in-house trainees, while the rest are open to external candidates. Eligible participants include ITI students and those pursuing 10th, 12th, diploma, or degree courses.

Courses cover cutting-edge technologies, including additive manufacturing, drone technology, electric vehicles, solar energy, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, mobile repair, and social media influencing.

Special batches are being launched for women (364) and emerging sectors (408), with dedicated training centres in Gadchiroli, Latur, Nagpur, and Amravati. A unique ‘Vedic Sanskar Junior Assistant’ course will also prepare participants for the Kumbh Mela in Nashik.

Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced that inaugural sessions will be held at 600 locations across the state. Artisans from the Vishwakarma community, local artists, and traditional trade experts will be honoured, promoting recognition and respect for Maharashtra’s cultural skills.