PM-SETU Industry Conclave in Lucknow
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, organized the PM-SETU Industry Conclave in Lucknow on August 30, 2026. The event brought together senior representatives from government, industry, multilateral institutions, defence public sector enterprises, sector skill councils, and skilling stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening industry participation in vocational education and transforming Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into world-class centres of excellence.
Key Participants and Leadership
The conclave was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, and Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Kapil Dev Agarwal. Senior officials from MSDE, Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Defence, and Government of Uttar Pradesh participated alongside industry leaders from defence and manufacturing organizations including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), BrahMos Aerospace, Troop Comforts Limited (TCL), Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), Gliders India Limited (GIL), Ashok Leyland, NSDC, TCIL, and PTC, with representatives from the World Bank and industry associations.
Strategic Addresses and Key Messages
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that India's journey toward becoming a global manufacturing and technology powerhouse depends on highly skilled manpower, particularly in defence manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, drones, robotics, precision engineering, and automation. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's emergence as a manufacturing and defence production hub driven by its industrial ecosystem and Defence Corridor. Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of converting India's demographic dividend into a productive dividend and stressed that skill certificates hold value only when they lead to meaningful employment. He called upon Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and defence-related organizations to actively partner in the PM-SETU initiative and transform ITIs while strengthening apprenticeship opportunities.
Minister Jayant Chaudhary described PM-SETU as a new partnership model between government, industry, and training institutions designed to bridge the gap between training and employment. He emphasized that industries must go beyond CSR initiatives and take active ownership of ITIs, particularly given the defence sector's reliance on technology and innovation. Uttar Pradesh officials highlighted the state's commitment to strengthening its skilling ecosystem to meet the needs of its expanding industrial and manufacturing base, with eight PM-SETU clusters already identified in the state.
PM-SETU Funding and Ownership Structure
Under the PM-SETU Scheme, cluster projects comprising one Hub ITI and four Spoke ITIs can attract investments of up to ₹241 crore, supported through a funding pattern of 50% from the Government of India, 33% from State Governments, and 17% from Industry Partners. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) structure provides 51% ownership to Anchor Industry Partners, while the Centre and State Governments hold 24.5% ownership each, ensuring meaningful industry leadership in cluster development and operations. In Uttar Pradesh, 32 ITIs across 8 clusters have been identified, with seven still open for collaboration.
Current Investment Commitments and Additional Initiatives
The conclave revealed that approved Industry Partnership proposals under PM-SETU currently represent more than ₹1,500 crore of committed industry-led investment across seven clusters in five states, with several additional proposals under consideration. During the event, NSDC and the Lucknow Cantonment Board signed an MoU to establish Shaurya Academy, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at preparing youth for careers in the Armed Forces, Police, and other uniformed services.