The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has approved five major modernisation projects worth ₹1,194.92 crore for Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. The National Steering Committee cleared these Strategic Investment Plans at its sixth meeting, bringing the cumulative approved investment under the scheme to ₹3,687 crore.
PM-SETU is a Government of India initiative to transform ITIs into modern, industry-aligned institutions that equip trainees with skills relevant to current job market demands. Each approved project will be implemented through partnerships between state governments, private industry partners and participating ITIs.
Key facts
- Total investment approved: ₹1,194.92 crore for five clusters
- Cumulative PM-SETU investment approved so far: ₹3,687 crore
- Kataka ITI Cluster, Odisha: ₹240.50 crore (Tata Steel Foundation partnership)
- Pune ITI Cluster, Maharashtra: ₹241 crore (BVG India partnership)
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ITI Cluster, Maharashtra: ₹238.01 crore (Belrise Industries partnership)
- Jammu ITI Cluster, Jammu & Kashmir: ₹240 crore (Eagle Infra India partnership)
- Srinagar ITI Cluster, Jammu & Kashmir: ₹235.41 crore (Inderdeep Infra India partnership)
- Trainers trained under the scheme so far: 3,744
What the approved projects will do
Each cluster comprises a central government ITI (called the Hub) connected with four to five satellite ITIs (called Spokes). The projects will modernise physical infrastructure, introduce new training programmes aligned with industry requirements, strengthen the capacity of instructors, build stronger connections between ITIs and employers, and improve job placement outcomes for graduates.
The Kataka cluster in Odisha will work with Tata Steel Foundation to strengthen infrastructure and introduce new-age training aligned with the steel and manufacturing sectors. The cluster includes government ITIs in Kataka, Choudwar, Paradeep, Jajpur and Dhenkanal.
In Maharashtra, two clusters will be upgraded. The Pune cluster led by BVG India will serve ITIs in Aundh, Pimpri Chinchwad, Khed and Mulshi. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar cluster with Belrise Industries will cover ITIs in Paithan, Khultabad, Phulambri and Gangapur. Both will focus on modernisation and industry linkages relevant to their regional economies.
Jammu & Kashmir is getting two clusters. The Jammu cluster partnered with Eagle Infra India will upgrade ITIs in R.S. Pura, Nowshera, Samba and Kathua. The Srinagar cluster with Inderdeep Infra India will cover ITIs in Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam and Charar-i-Sharief. The government noted that progress in Jammu & Kashmir reflects strong commitment to expanding skill opportunities in the region.
Focus areas across all clusters
The projects share common objectives including infrastructure modernisation, introduction of industry-aligned trades, trainer capacity building, enhanced industry engagement and improved employment outcomes. The scheme encourages clusters to pursue ISO certification and include at least one trade or competency aligned with international WorldSkills standards.
Training progress under the scheme
The National Steering Committee also reviewed progress of the Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, which builds a pool of instructors equipped with contemporary technical and teaching skills. As of October 2026, 3,744 trainers have completed the training through National Skill Training Institutes.
What this means for you
If you are a student considering ITI training, these upgraded clusters will offer better facilities, more industry-relevant courses and stronger placement support. Instructors in these institutes will receive modern training methods. Employers in the manufacturing, steel, automotive and other sectors will have access to skilled workers trained to industry standards. Local economies in these regions will benefit from improved workforce readiness.