The National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) has approved Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth ₹1,237.58 crore for the modernisation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Odisha, Gujarat and Telangana. The approvals mark a significant step in expanding industry-led skill development under the Government’s flagship initiative to transform India’s vocational education ecosystem.
The decisions were taken during the fourth meeting of the National Steering Committee chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The meeting was attended by Dilip Kumar, Director General, Directorate General of Training (DGT), Manasi Sahay Thakur, Joint Secretary, MSDE, along with senior representatives from state governments, industry, multilateral agencies and other stakeholders.
The committee also approved the nationwide rollout of PM-SETU across all 200 identified ITI clusters, moving the programme beyond its pilot phase. States and Union Territories will now implement the initiative based on industry readiness and institutional capacity. The committee also endorsed measures to streamline implementation, strengthen industry participation, encourage greater involvement of public sector enterprises and expand institutional support for project execution.
Among the approved projects, Jindal Naveen Avasar Limited will serve as the Anchor Industry Partner for an ITI cluster in Odisha comprising Government ITI Barbil as the hub and Government ITIs at Anandapur, Koira, Karanjia and Barkote as spoke institutes. The project involves a proposed investment of ₹240.21 crore aimed at upgrading infrastructure, training facilities and industry-relevant programmes.
In Gujarat, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has been selected as the Anchor Industry Partner for the Surat ITI cluster, which includes Government ITI Surat as the hub and Government ITIs at Hajira, Bardoli, Sachin and Surat (Mahila) as spoke institutions. The proposed investment for the cluster is ₹240.18 crore and is expected to strengthen advanced manufacturing and industrial skills training.
Telangana received approvals for three ITI clusters. Apollo MedSkills Limited will anchor the Government ITI Old City cluster with an investment of ₹241.01 crore, focusing on healthcare and allied skill development. Sri Siddharth Infratech & Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. will lead the Government ITI Patancheru cluster with an investment of ₹275.24 crore, while Neuland Foundation will anchor the Government ITI Sangareddy cluster with a proposed investment of ₹240.94 crore.
PM-SETU is designed to modernise India’s ITI network through stronger industry partnerships, upgraded infrastructure, technology-enabled training and demand-driven curricula. By aligning vocational education with evolving industry requirements, the initiative aims to improve employability, create a skilled workforce for emerging sectors and strengthen India’s long-term manufacturing and services competitiveness.
