Maharashtra's New Employment Initiative: Chief Minister's Short-Term Employment Program Launched

Introduction to the STEP Initiative

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chief Minister's Short-Term Employment Program (STEP) in Maharashtra. This initiative aims to equip the youth of the state with advanced skills pertinent to industry and employment. The program will be executed by the Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Department of Maharashtra, with a goal to train 75,000 students this year and around 100,000 students in the following year.

Training Units and Management

As part of this initiative, a total of 2,506 training units will be set up across 419 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 141 government technical schools. Local management committees will supervise the courses to ensure quality training and community involvement. The program aims to empower youth and create self-employment opportunities, particularly for rural youth and women.

Admission Process

How to Apply:

The admission process for this program will be conducted entirely online. Interested candidates can register at admission.dvet.gov.in.

Training Fees

Cost of Training:

The monthly training fee will vary between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply:

About 25% of the seats will be reserved for current trainees at the institutes, while the remaining seats will be available for external candidates. Eligible applicants include those enrolled in ITI programs, as well as students pursuing 10th, 12th, diploma, and degree courses.

Curriculum and Specialized Training

The STEP program will cover a range of modern technical subjects, including additive manufacturing, drone technology, electric vehicles, solar energy, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, mobile repair, and social media influencing. Specialized training centers will be established in Gadchiroli, Latur, Nagpur, and Amravati, focusing on the specific needs of local industries.

Additional Courses and Inauguration Events

Additionally, a 'Vedic Sanskar Junior Assistant' course will be introduced in Nashik to prepare for the Kumbh Mela. Inauguration ceremonies took place at 600 locations throughout the state, attended by artisans, local artists, and experts in traditional crafts.