The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Bihar Government announced two major skill development initiatives during a ceremony attended by Bihar Chief Minister Shri Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary. The foundation stone was laid for the permanent campus of National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI-W) in Patna, which will be developed at Bihta with an investment of ₹99.97 crore. The campus will include a modern Administrative Block, Academic Block and Girls' Hostel to substantially expand training capacity and introduce industry-aligned courses.
Simultaneously, MSDE and Bihar Government exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding for establishing a Skill India International Centre (SIIC) in Bihar, supported by a capital investment of approximately ₹7 crore from the Government of India. The SIIC will prepare Bihar's youth for global careers through foreign-language training (English, German, Japanese, French), international employment counseling, certification guidance, pre-departure orientation and safe-migration support.
NSTI-W Patna is the only Central Government skill training institute exclusively for women in Bihar and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Currently operating from a temporary campus, it offers training in Electronics Mechanic, Fashion Design and Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Cosmetology under various schemes including PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, NIESBUD-led programmes, DGR-EDP, and STRIVE.
The permanent campus will serve as a premier center for women's skill development in Bihar and neighboring states, offering modern laboratories, improved residential facilities and industry-aligned training. Based on Trade Selection Committee recommendations, the institute will offer 13 trades under Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), including conventional and women-centric trades alongside emerging areas such as AI and Programming Assistant, Drone Technician, Solar Technician and Radiology Technician, providing total annual training capacity for 435 trainees.
The Skill India International Centre will provide industry-aligned training in high-demand sectors such as electrical services, plumbing, construction, agriculture and other emerging trades, aligned with international occupational standards and destination country requirements. The ceremony was also attended by Shri Arun Shankar Prasad (Minister, Labour Resources, Migrant Workers Welfare and Youth, Employment and Skill Development, Government of Bihar), Shri Pratyaya Amrit (Chief Secretary of Bihar), and senior officials from both governments.