NEW DELHI,04-oct-2025 In a landmark event for India’s skill development landscape, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today presided over the 4th National
Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, felicitating 46 All India Toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The ceremony set the stage for the launch of a transformative, centrally sponsored scheme aimed at revolutionizing vocational training.
PM-SETU: A Bridge to the Future of Skilling*
The Prime Minister officially launched PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a ₹60,000 crore
scheme designed to modernize 1,000 Government ITIs across the country.
The scheme will adopt a hub-and-spoke model, establishing 200 hub ITIs connected to 800 spoke ITIs. The hubs will be equipped with advanced
infrastructure, including:
- Innovation and Incubation Centres
- Production Units
- Training-of-Trainer Facilities
- Dedicated Placement Services
The spokes will extend this advanced training and access to a wider demographic, ensuring nationwide reach.
Key features of PM-SETU include:
- Introduction of new, demand-driven courses revamped in collaboration with industry.
- Management of ITI clusters through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with Anchor Industry Partners to ensure outcome-based training.
- Creating flexible pathways for long-term diplomas, short-term courses, and executive programs.
- Strengthening 5 National Skill Training Institutes as global Centres of Excellence.
The first phase has identified 15 hub-and-spoke clusters across states including Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, and Assam,
among others.
Skilling at the School Level: 1,200 Vocational Labs Inaugurated
In a significant move to integrate skilling into mainstream education, the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
This initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is designed to expose students from rural and tribal areas to hands-on training in
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12 high-demand sectors** like IT, Automotive, Agriculture, and Electronics. The labs are equipped with modern machinery and digital tools, with
1,200 teachers already trained to deliver this industry-relevant curriculum.
Leadership Emphasizes Foundation of a Self-Reliant India
In his address, Prime Minister Modi underscored the critical role of ITIs, stating, **“ITIs are not only premier institutions of industrial education,
they are also the workshops of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”** He emphasized that these institutes are turning millions of youth into confident contributors to
the economy, forming the bedrock of India’s journey to becoming a skill-based economy.
Echoing this sentiment, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, **“With initiatives
like Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, PM-SETU and the Skill Labs, we are carrying forward that vision to empower every young Indian to become self-reliant,
capable and globally competitive.”**
These monumental announcements reaffirm the government’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce, preparing India’s youth for global opportunities,
and accelerating the nation’s progress towards Viksit Bharat @2047.
For Our Labour Readers: The massive upgrade of ITIs and the introduction of skilling at the school level signal a robust expansion of formal, quality
skill development infrastructure. This is poised to directly enhance the employability, wages, and career progression opportunities for the entire
workforce, from new entrants to those seeking upskilling.
