At the 4th edition of the National Skill Convocation known as Kauhal Deekshant Samaroh, a unique initiative that was first conceptualized under the inspiration of the Prime Minister to make skill development aspirational, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) Scheme — a landmark ₹60,000 crore centrally sponsored scheme to transform 1,000 Government ITIs across India into modern, industry-aligned training institutions.
The scheme PM-SETU will follow a hub-and-spoke model, with 200 hub ITIs linked to 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will be equipped with advanced infrastructure, innovation and incubation centres, production units, training of trainer facilities, and placement services, while the spokes will extend access and outreach through:
- Introducing new, demand-driven courses and revamp existing ones in collaboration with industry;
- Setting up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with credible Anchor Industry Partners to manage clusters and ensure outcome-based training;
- Creating pathways for long-term diplomas, short-term courses, and executive programs;
- Strengthening 5 National Skill Training Institutes in – Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Chennai (Tamilnadu), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), as Centres of Excellence with global partnerships.
Phase I
15 hub-and-spoke ITI clusters have been identified across the country, spanning diverse regions and industrial ecosystems. These include Sonipat (Haryana), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Bijnor and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Bengaluru Urban (Karnataka), Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Darbhanga and Patna (Bihar), Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Hyderabad (Telangana), Sambalpur (Odisha), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Guwahati (Assam)
Each cluster will serve as a centre of excellence in skills, equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, and industry-led training, creating model ecosystems that can be replicated nationwide.
