Centre approves Rs 1,238 crore investment, pan-India rollout of PM-SETU
New Delhi, July 7
The Centre has approved the nationwide rollout of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs scheme and cleared Strategic Investment Plans worth Rs 1,237.58 crore to modernise Industrial Training Institutes through industry partnerships, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said on Tuesday.
According to the government, the decisions were taken at the fourth meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) on PM-SETU -- chaired by Secretary of the MSDE, Debashree Mukherjee.
The committee approved the transition of PM-SETU from its pilot phase to a nationwide rollout across all 200 identified ITI clusters, enabling states and Union Territories to implement the scheme based on industry readiness and execution capacity, the ministry said.
It also approved measures to simplify implementation, enhance industry participation, encourage greater involvement of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and strengthen the institutional ecosystem supporting the programme.
A key outcome of the meeting was the approval of five strategic investment plans with a combined outlay of Rs 1,237.58 crore, backed by leading industry partners across Odisha, Gujarat and Telangana.
In Odisha, a company was selected as the anchor industry partner for the Government ITI Barbil cluster, with a proposed investment of Rs 240.21 crore.
In Gujarat, an integrated flat carbon steel manufacturer will anchor the Government ITI Surat cluster with an investment of Rs 240.18 crore.
Three ITI clusters in Telangana also received approval.
The ministry also noted that a healthcare education and training organisation will lead the Government ITI Old City cluster with an investment of Rs 241.01 crore, while another firm will anchor the Government ITI Patancheru cluster with Rs 275.24 crore.
The Government ITI Sangareddy cluster will be supported by a company with an investment of Rs 240.94 crore.
The Strategic Investment Plans -- recommended by the respective State Steering Committees -- are aimed at upgrading ITI infrastructure, introducing industry-aligned training programmes and improving employability outcomes through closer collaboration between industry and training institutions.
PM-SETU is one of the Centre's flagship skilling initiatives focused on modernising India's ITI ecosystem through upgraded infrastructure, future-ready curricula, stronger industry partnerships and improved employment opportunities for students.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who did ITI in welding from Gujarat, I can tell u these institutes needed upgrade badly. Surat cluster getting ₹240 crore with steel industry partner is very smart - linking training directly to factory needs. But pls ensure regular maintenance, not just launch-and-forget scheme like many before.
Good initiative! But why only Odisha, Gujarat, Telangana in first phase? What about states like Bihar, UP, Rajasthan where ITI infrastructure is pathetic? Also, hope this scheme includes soft skills and digital literacy - not just technical training. Employability means more than machine skills 💯
The healthcare partner in Old City cluster is interesting - ₹241 crore for healthcare training in ITI is much needed. We have huge gap in paramedical staff. But need to ensure these are not just fancy buildings but actual skill development with placement guarantees. Also, reservation for women in these programs pls 🙏
Important question - what about the existing ITI teachers? Without training them on new curriculum, no amount of investment will work. And why only 200 clusters? We have thousands of ITIs across India. This should be scaled up quickly. Also, industry partnerships are good but need monitoring mechanisms so companies don't just take tax benefits without delivering.
IIT graduate here but I support this! Not everyone needs engineering degree. Our country needs skilled welders, electricians, mechanics more than software engineers in many sectors. The Rs 1,238 crore is good start but should have been done 10 years ago. Better late than
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