PM-SETU Approves ₹1,194.92 Crore for Five ITI Clusters in Three Regions

The National Steering Committee has approved five Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth ₹1,194.92 crore to upgrade 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, news agency PTI reported on Friday. The approval takes the cumulative investment sanctioned under the scheme so far to ₹3,687 crore.
Tata Steel Foundation, BVG India, Belrise Industries, Eagle Infra India and Inderdeep Infra India will partner in upgrading the five ITI clusters. The projects will be implemented through partnerships involving state governments, industry partners and participating ITIs under the PM-SETU framework.
The National Steering Committee meeting was chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The committee reviewed the progress of the PM-SETU scheme and approved the investment plans aimed at strengthening ITI infrastructure, improving training quality and increasing industry participation.
“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,” Mukherjee was quoted as saying by PTI.
The approved Strategic Investment Plans will focus on modernising infrastructure, introducing industry-aligned courses, strengthening trainer capacity, enhancing engagement with industry and improving employability outcomes for youth.
The committee also encouraged ITI clusters to work towards ISO certification and incorporate at least one WorldSkills-aligned trade or competency area into their Approved Implementation Plans.
“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,” he said.
The latest approvals follow an earlier decision in September, when the National Steering Committee approved Strategic Investment Plans with an aggregate project outlay of ₹735.70 crore for ITI clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
What is PM-SETU?
The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India aimed at transforming the ITI ecosystem through industry partnerships, modern infrastructure, upgraded training programmes and improved employability outcomes.
The scheme follows an industry-led, cluster-based approach in which a Hub ITI is supported by a network of Spoke ITIs. This model is designed to enable coordinated investment, infrastructure modernisation and the delivery of industry-relevant skills.
With the latest approval of ₹1,194.92 crore for five ITI clusters, the scheme's cumulative approved investment has reached ₹3,687 crore, reinforcing its focus on industry partnerships, training quality and employment-oriented skill development.