PM-SETU: ITIs Get a ₹60,000 Crore Upgrade

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will form special purpose vehicles (SPVs) in collaboration with credible industry partners to manage Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters under the ambitious ₹60,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme aims to modernise 1,000 government ITIs by introducing industry-aligned curricula and offering long-term, short-term, and executive training programmes. The initiative will follow a hub-and-spoke model, establishing 200 advanced hub ITIs connected to 800 spoke ITIs, significantly expanding access and outreach.

As part of the scheme, five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs)—located in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana—will be upgraded as Global Centres of Excellence, equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and training capabilities.

In Phase I, 15 hub-and-spoke clusters have been identified across key cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Guwahati, and Bengaluru. Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary highlighted the transformative scale of the initiative, noting that over 9 lakh students received National Trade Certificates this year alone.

Additionally, 1,200 vocational labs will be established in residential schools across the country, offering skilling in 12 high-demand sectors, further supporting youth employability and workforce readiness.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.