THE SUNDAY WO R L D T E AC H E R S ’ DAY Vol. 37 No. 2 | Sunday, October 5, 2025 31 Pages | `5 & for State `6 | Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation `62K CR PUSH | A slew of youth-centric schemes with special focus on Bihar mark latest initiative PM Modi in big Bihar bonanza Dheeraj Kumar PATNA PRAISE FOR TRUMP Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled a package of youth-centric initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore, with a clear emphasis on Bihar, during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The projects span skills, education, employment and entrepreneurship, underscoring the Centre’s strategy to place youth empowerment at the heart of both national development and the political discourse in a poll-bound state. Addressing lakhs of students from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country, and especially from Bihar, Modi said the government has institutionalised large-scale convocation ceremonies for ITI graduates to highlight the dignity of skilled education. At the event, he launched PMSETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza made decisive progress. Modi referred to the indications of the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and said it marked a significant step forward in restoring peace in the region. He wrote on X, “India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.” Trump has ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan to end the nearly two-year war and return all remaining hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack. Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but added that other aspects of the plan required further consultations among Palestinians. See also World with an outlay of ₹60,000 crore. The scheme envisages upgrading 1,000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model, comprising 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs, to link vocational training more closely with industry demand. Alongside, 1,200 new skill labs across Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Schools were inaugurated. The Prime Minister pointed out that until 2014, India had just 10,000 ITIs. In the past dec- ade, nearly 5,000 new ITIs have been added, marking a sharp acceleration in capacity. Bihar received special attention, with the launch of a revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, under which around five lakh graduates annually will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,000 for two years, coupled with free skill training. 4Contd on | Nation OBCs UNITE AGAINST GR Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI Prominent OBC leaders cutting across party lines came together on Saturday to oppose the Maharashtra government resolution (GR) of September 2 on the Hyderabad Gazette and the subsequent distribution of Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community. Senior ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Pankaja Munde, both part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, spoke sharply against the state’s handling of the issue. Bhujbal questioned why the Law and Judiciary Department’s opinion had not been sought before issuing the GR, while Munde demanded a white paper on the caste validity process and the Kunbi certificates being granted. Both Japan poised for first woman prime minister Agencies TOKYO Japan is on the verge of making history. Sanae Takaichi, a 64-year-old hardline conservative once known for drumming in a college heavy metal band, has been elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is expected to soon become the country’s first female prime minister. Her rise is being described as nothing short of extraordinary, though not without controversy. Takaichi’s victory came in a heated party leadership contest on Saturday, defeating rivals including the youthful Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, son of a former prime minister, and the more subdued Yoshimasa Hayashi. With the LDP still the largest force in parliament, she is highly likely to be confirmed as premier later this month, succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. That will make her Japan’s fifth leader in just five years. 4Contd on | Nation Chhagan Bhujbal and Pankaja Munde spoke sharply against the state’s handling of the issue are members of the ministerial group constituted on OBC matters. From the Opposition, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar Leaders across party lines oppose Maratha caste certificate move announced that the planned OBC “Mahamorcha” will proceed in Nagpur on October 10. He said the government’s refusal to accept OBC demands left no choice but to intensify the agitation. OBC organisations, he stressed, are united in seeking cancellation of the GR and the publication of a white paper on Kunbi and caste verification certificates issued since 2014. His stance, however, diverges from that of several Congress leaders in Marathwada and western Maharashtra, who have been sympathetic to Maratha reservation demands. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who heads the OBC group of ministers, said complaints about fraudulent caste certificates would be examined. 4Contd on | Nation Gill named ODI skipper Haridev Pushparaj AHMEDABAD Indian cricket officially entered a new era on Friday with Shubman Gill named captain of the ODI side for the upcoming three-match series in Australia, succeeding Rohit Sharma. The move is widely seen as a generational shift. Rohit had led India to the ICC Champions Trophy title earlier this year, sparking speculation over his role in the 2027 World Cup. But the selectors have chosen to hand the reins to the 25-year-old Punjab batter, signalling a clear longterm plan. Explaining the decision, Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the squad against Australia Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar said, “It isn’t ideal to have different captains across formats. Gill leading in both Tests and ODIs will give the team management and coach Gautam Gambhir more clarity in planning for major tournaments.” The ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027, is still two years away. 4Contd on | Nation