Centre approves Rs 1,195 crore to upgrade ITI clusters in three states

New Delhi: The Centre has approved five Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth Rs 1,194.92 crore to modernise Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters in Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme.

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The approvals were granted on Friday by the National Steering Committee, chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, during a review of the scheme’s implementation.

With the latest approvals, the cumulative investment sanctioned under PM-SETU has reached Rs 3,687 crore.

Industry partners to drive upgrades

Five industry partners — Tata Steel Foundation, BVG India, Belrise Industries, Eagle Infra India and Inderdeep Infra India — will collaborate with state governments and participating ITIs to implement the approved projects.

The investment plans aim to upgrade training infrastructure, introduce industry-relevant courses, strengthen trainers’ capabilities and deepen collaboration between technical institutes and employers.

The initiative is also expected to improve employment opportunities for young people by aligning vocational training with evolving industry requirements.

Focus on training quality

“The approvals given by the National Steering Committee are an important step in implementing PM-SETU. They will help strengthen ITIs, improve training and increase industry participation. We encourage clusters to work towards ISO certification and include at least one WorldSkills-aligned trade or competency area in their Approved Implementation Plans. Our aim is to improve training quality and help young people gain skills that lead to better employment opportunities,” Mukherjee said.

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The committee also emphasised the need for ITI clusters to pursue internationally recognised training standards and strengthen industry participation.

Under the PM-SETU framework, the approved projects will be executed through partnerships involving state governments, private industry and training institutions, with a focus on improving skill development outcomes and employability.

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