National Steering Committee Approves ₹1,194.92 Crore Investment for ITI Clusters
The 6th National Steering Committee meeting of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, chaired by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, approved five Strategic Investment Plans worth ₹1,194.92 crore for ITI clusters across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jammu & Kashmir. This approval brings the cumulative investment under PM-SETU to ₹3,687 crore, representing a significant milestone in the government's efforts to transform Industrial Training Institutes into modern, industry-aligned skill institutions.
The approved clusters will be implemented through partnerships between State Governments, industry partners, and participating ITIs under the PM-SETU framework. The projects focus on modernizing infrastructure, introducing industry-aligned courses, strengthening trainer capacity, enhancing industry engagement, and improving employability outcomes for youth.
Cluster-wise Investment Breakdown
The Kataka ITI Cluster in Odisha received approval for ₹240.50 crore in partnership with Tata Steel Foundation. This cluster comprises Government ITI Kataka as the Hub and Madhusudan Government ITI Choudwar, Government ITI Paradeep, Government ITI Jajpur, and Government ITI Dhenkanal as Spokes.
The Pune ITI Cluster in Maharashtra was approved for ₹241 crore to be implemented by BVG India Limited in consortium with BVG Foundation. This cluster includes Government ITI Aundh, Pune as the Hub and Government ITI Aundh (Women), Government ITI Pimpri Chinchwad, Government ITI Khed (Rajgurunagar), and Government ITI Mulshi as Spokes.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ITI Cluster in Maharashtra received ₹238.01 crore approval in partnership with Belrise Industries Limited, comprising Government ITI Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as the Hub and Government ITI Paithan, Government ITI Khultabad, Government ITI Phulambri, and Government ITI Gangapur as Spokes.
The Jammu ITI Cluster in Jammu & Kashmir was approved for ₹240 crore in partnership with Eagle Infra India Limited, including Government ITI Jammu as the Hub and Government ITI R.S. Pura, Government ITI Nowshera, Government ITI Samba, and Government ITI Kathua as Spokes.
The Srinagar ITI Cluster in Jammu & Kashmir received ₹235.41 crore approval in partnership with Inderdeep Infra India Limited, comprising Government ITI Srinagar as the Hub and Government ITI Ganderbal, Government ITI Kangan, Government ITI Budgam, and Government ITI Charar-i-Sharief as Spokes.
Training Progress and Quality Initiatives
The Committee reviewed progress under the Training of Trainers (ToT) component II of PM-SETU, which aims to build a pool of industry-ready instructors. As of October 2026, 3,744 trainers have been trained through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). The Ministry encouraged clusters to work towards ISO certification and include at least one WorldSkills-aligned trade or competency area in their Approved Implementation Plans to improve training quality and employment opportunities for youth.