The Centre has approved Strategic Investment Plans involving a combined project outlay of more than ₹735 crore for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, giving a fresh impetus to the modernisation of the country's vocational training ecosystem.
The approvals were announced during the 5th National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU), held under the chairpersonship of Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Debashree Mukherjee.
Under the approved plans, Rajasthan will receive an investment outlay of ₹241 crore, while Uttar Pradesh has been allocated more than ₹240 crore. Telangana will have an investment plan of ₹254 crore. Together, the three projects represent an investment of over ₹735 crore aimed at upgrading ITI infrastructure and making vocational training more responsive to the needs of modern industry.
According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the latest approvals have taken the total sanctioned investment under PM-SETU to ₹2,171 crore across nine ITI clusters.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the industry's role in shaping vocational education and training. The approved plans envisage greater participation from industry and institutional partners in modernising ITI infrastructure, introducing future-ready courses and ensuring that training programmes remain closely aligned with changing workforce requirements.
The focus is increasingly shifting from conventional vocational training towards skills demanded by emerging sectors and new technologies. Upgraded facilities, contemporary curricula and stronger industry linkages are expected to improve the ability of ITIs to prepare young people for evolving employment opportunities.
PM-SETU is a flagship Central Government initiative designed to transform the ITI ecosystem through industry partnerships, modern infrastructure, upgraded training programmes and improved employability outcomes. Its cluster-based model seeks to create stronger and more coordinated vocational training networks.
Under the scheme, a Hub ITI serves as the central institution and is supported by a network of Spoke ITIs. This structure is intended to facilitate coordinated investments, shared resources, infrastructure modernisation and the delivery of industry-relevant training across the cluster.
The latest approvals underline the government's emphasis on making ITIs more closely connected with India's industrial and economic transformation. By bringing industry partners into the modernisation process, PM-SETU seeks to bridge the gap between classroom training and actual workplace requirements.
The investment in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana is therefore not merely an infrastructure upgrade but part of a broader effort to create a more agile and employment-oriented skill development system. As industries adopt automation, digital technologies and new production methods, the ability of vocational institutions to keep pace will be crucial.
With ₹2,171 crore now sanctioned across nine clusters, PM-SETU is emerging as a significant vehicle for reshaping India's ITI network and strengthening the country's skilled workforce pipeline.
Leave Your Comment