Ministry Approves Surat ITI Cluster Under PM-SETU Scheme
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, announced the approval of the Surat ITI Cluster in Gujarat under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. The cluster represents one of the first major PM-SETU projects approved for implementation in Gujarat and is anchored by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) as the Anchor Industry Partner with academic partner NAMTECH.
The initiative follows a hub-and-spoke model where ITI Surat serves as the Hub institute supported by four Spoke institutes: ITI Surat (Women), ITI Hajira, ITI Bardoli, and ITI Sachin. The cluster is designed to create a comprehensive skilling ecosystem aligned with Gujarat's industrial growth trajectory, focusing on sectors including advanced manufacturing, steel, engineering, process industries, textiles, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Financial Commitment and Implementation Scope
The Strategic Investment Plan envisages a budget outlay of approximately ₹240 crore over five years. The modernization effort will focus on infrastructure upgradation, advanced laboratories and workshops, digital learning systems, smart classrooms, curriculum modernization, faculty development, and industry-led governance mechanisms. The project targets enrollment of approximately 25,000 trainees over five years and is expected to create 3,528 additional training seats across upgraded and newly introduced programs.
Industry Partnership and Skill Development Focus
AM/NS India brings significant operational scale, industry expertise, and skilling capabilities to the initiative, including industry-integrated learning systems, apprenticeship-linked training programs, Industry 4.0 initiatives, and digital skilling platforms. The company currently operates a robust skill development ecosystem with collaborations leading academic and training institutions. The cluster will upgrade existing trades, introduce new long-term programs aligned to emerging technologies, and launch short-term industry-oriented courses to improve employability outcomes and apprenticeship opportunities for youth across the region.
The approval demonstrates the growing momentum of PM-SETU implementation across the country and the increasing role of industry in shaping the skill ecosystem. With a total program outlay of ₹60,000 crore, the PM-SETU scheme aims to transform Government ITIs through industry-led models, modernizing infrastructure and developing 5 National Centres of Excellence while upgrading 1,000 ITIs.