PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 5 -- In a major step towards making Uttar Pradesh's education system more employment-focused, "Project Praveen" is set to offer free skill development training to thousands of young people in secondary schools across the state this year too. Prayagraj alone will see 595 students gain access to specialised training designed to boost their job readiness and practical skills, say district officials in the know of things. Set against the backdrop of a state-wide mission to strengthen youth employability, "Project Praveen" will benefit over 61,000 students across Uttar Pradesh during the 2025-26 academic year. The programme targets students in government intermediate colleges, equipping them with market-relevant skills in sectors like IT, IT-enabled services (ITeS) and automobile technology. Training sessions will kick off on October 20 at four government institutions in Prayagraj: Government Inter College, Prayagraj Sadar; Government Inter College, Phoolpur; Government Inter College, Suruwadalapur, and Government Higher Secondary School, Mohabbatganj. The comprehensive 250-hour course will be offered to students from classes 9 through 11, said Abhishek Shukla, district manager, Kaushal Vikas Mission, Prayagraj. "Through this initiative, we aim to empower 595 students with skills that align directly with industry demands. This not only enhances their employability but also opens avenues for entrepreneurship and self-reliance," he added. The programme's implementation follows a formal memorandum of understanding between the state secondary education department and the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, reflecting a collaborative push to make education more practical and employment-oriented. Seats have been allocated based on school locations and capacity: 210 students each at Prayagraj Sadar and Suruwadalapur colleges, 105 at Phoolpur, and 70 at Mohabbatganj. This represents a significant increase from last year's 498 trainees, underscoring the growing momentum behind skill development efforts....