The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the apex body responsible for formulating policies, standards, and the accreditation & affiliation framework for ITIs across the country has recently released the affiliation norms for Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) 2025.
The last comprehensive Accreditation and Affiliation Norms for ITIs were issued in 2018. Over the past seven years, several reforms, updates, and procedural improvements have been introduced through various Office Memorandums and guidelines. The release circular states that in addition to the need for the consolidation of previously made amendments, it was also necessary to revamp the norms based on the feedback, field experiences, and practical challenges shared by all stakeholders, and to align them with contemporary requirements and technological advancements.
DGT undertook a detailed review of the existing norms and carried out a wide-ranging consultative process with all stakeholders. Accordingly, the draft norms were prepared and placed in the public domain for feedback and after extensive deliberations and incorporation of relevant suggestions, the revised norms have been finalized and shall hereafter be referred to as the Affiliation Norms – 2025.
These norms introduce a streamlined, technology-enabled, transparent, and uniform accreditation and affiliation system that simplifies procedures, enhances accountability, promotes uniformity across States and UTs, and strengthens mechanisms to ensure high-quality vocational training across all affiliated ITIs.
The directorate affirmed that these norms shall come into force with immediate effect and will supersede all previous circulars, office memorandums, letters, and guidelines related to accreditation, affiliation, shifting/relocation of ITIs, de-affiliation, and renewal of affiliation.
All new applications submitted will be processed strictly in accordance with the Affiliation Norms – 2025.However, it is informed that all applications already submitted and currently under process (for new and existing ITIs) shall continue to be decided as per the Affiliation Norms – 2018. Moreover, the applications which have been decided by DGT prior to the issuance of these norms shall not be reopened or reconsidered under the new guidelines.
Key features include:
- Simplified Application Process: The Affiliation Norms 2025 introduce a streamlined two-stage application process, enhancing clarity and efficiency for applicants. The previous three-stage desktop assessment has also been merged into a single-stage assessment, conducted by the State Directorate or RDSDE, thereby significantly reducing processing time.
- Streamlined Joint Inspections: The joint inspection process has been made more flexible, enabling applicants to choose their preferred inspection slots. A standardized inspection report format has been introduced to systematically record the inspection team’s observations, including trade-wise recommendations, thereby offering greater clarity and a real time overview of the institute.
- Reduction in Compliance Burden Related to Document Requirements: The 2025 Affiliation Norms minimize the number of documents required during the application and inspection stages by clearly categorizing them. This simplification reduces the administrative compliance burden for applicants and promotes ease of doing business while ensuring that essential compliance is maintained.
- Grievance and Appeal Mechanism: A two-tier grievance and appeal mechanism has been introduced to uphold the principles of natural justice, providing a structured process for resolution of grievances of the applicant institute.
- Comprehensive Guidelines for Existing ITIs: The new norms include detailed provisions for existing ITIs, covering the addition of trades/units, site/location change of ITIs, name change of ITIs, ITI mergers, conversion of SCVT trades into NCVET trades and renewal of affiliation.
- Year-round Online Process for Dual System of Training (DST) Affiliation: To strengthen industry participation under the Dual System of Training (DST), the new Affiliation Norms introduce a year round online application process for DST affiliation, replacing the previously offline process.
- Special Provision for Unserved Blocks and Spare Capacity of Polytechnic and Engineering Colleges: To enhance access to vocational training, the new guidelines introduce provisions for establishing ITIs in unserved blocks and optimizing the spare infrastructure of polytechnic and engineering colleges.
- New Age ITIs: The new norms include special provisions to facilitate the establishment of new ITIs or the adoption of existing ones by industries, ensuring that training programs are closely aligned with current industry needs. These industry-led ITIs will benefit from a fast-track ‘green channel’ affiliation process, which eliminates the requirement of obtaining a NOC from the State/UT Directorate.
- Streamlined De-affiliation Process: The Affiliation Norms 2025 provide detailed procedures and guidelines for the de-affiliation of ITIs. The process is designed to be transparent and fair, adhering to the principles of natural justice.
- Optimized Land Requirements and Space Utilization: The new affiliation norms rationalize land requirements for establishing new institutes, considering their geographical location, including rural, urban, hilly areas, Northeastern States, and border districts. Emphasizing space optimization, the norms offer greater flexibility through provisions for vertical expansion of buildings.
- Stakeholder-Friendly Affiliation Process: The Affiliation Norms 2025 are designed to foster a transparent and accountable system with clearly defined guidelines, roles of each stakeholder and timelines. By digitizing the process through the portal and minimizing ambiguity, the norms ensure a fair, consistent, and responsive experience for all applicants enhancing trust and efficiency across the affiliation ecosystem
