As part of its continued efforts to modernize vocational training infrastructure across India, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, Government of Gujarat, organized a State-Level Workshop cum Consultation on the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation at the NAMTECH Campus, located within the IIT-Gandhinagar campus.

The workshop served as a platform to initiate structured consultations with key stakeholders from industry and the training ecosystem. The objective was to align expectations and gather inputs for the successful implementation of the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation.

Highlighting the importance of industry involvement in making India’s skilling ecosystem globally competitive, Shri Rajit Punhani, Secretary, MSDE, said, “The ITI Upgradation Scheme is not just about upgrading buildings—it is about upgrading aspirations. It brings together the Centre, States, and Industry in a co-leadership model that prioritizes relevance, quality, and global readiness. By bringing industry on board as an equal partner, we are creating a new blueprint for vocational training that is demand-driven, forward-looking, and future-proof. Gujarat’s leadership and commitment to this mission reflect the transformative potential of centre-state-industry collaboration.”

A key highlight of the workshop was a comprehensive status update on Gujarat’s preparedness for scheme implementation. The state department apprised the participants of the actions taken till now, including potential clusters and timelines for pilot rollout.  

Ms. Sonal Mishra, Additional Secretary, MSDE, Govt of India shared insights into the ITI Upgradation Scheme, under which 1,000 ITIs across India will be upgraded using a hub-and-spoke model at a total investment of ₹60,000 crore. “Gujarat will lead as the pilot state for this transformation. We are in the process of finalizing an outcome-driven SOP,” Ms. Mishra said. “The upgraded ITIs will focus on industry-aligned curriculum, practical training, and robust placement linkages, ensuring that every student is ready for the workforce of tomorrow,” she said.

Dr Vinod Rao, Principal Secretary Department of Labour, Skill Development, and Employment, Government of Gujarat, outlined the state's vision for workforce development and economic growth. “Gujarat aspires to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030, and to achieve this, we will need to bring one crore additional people into the workforce over the next five years,” Dr. Rao said. “We are committed to increasing women’s participation in the workforce from 42% to 75%. To drive this transformation, we aim to mobilise ₹50,000 crore in private sector investment toward skilling, upskilling, and reskilling initiatives.”

Further sessions focused on strengthening industry partnerships for curriculum co-design, equipment modernization, CSR and funding collaborations, and establishing measurable outcome metrics. The industry perspective session witnessed robust participation from leading companies, underscoring the importance of shared ownership in skill development. This was complemented by insights from ITI representatives on ground-level needs, infrastructure gaps, and training capacity enhancement.

On 7th May 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation, with an outlay of INR 60,000 crore over five years to upgrade 1,000 ITIs across the country. It aims to align vocational education with global quality standards, advanced pedagogy, and real industry needs.

Funded through a tripartite model—₹30,000 crore from the Centre, ₹20,000 crore from States, and ₹10,000 crore from Industry (including CSR)—the scheme will modernize 1,000 ITIs, including 200 Hub ITIs with cutting-edge labs, innovation centres, and training-of-trainers (ToT) facilities, and 800 Spoke ITIs to ensure wider reach and quality parity. Additionally, five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) will be upgraded to host National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) in collaboration with global partners, anchoring high-end skilling, curriculum innovation, and capacity building.

The workshop was additionally graced by Shri Nitin Sangwan, Director of Employment and Training, Government of Gujarat: Shri P Swaroop, Industries Commissioner; Smt. Praveena D K, Vice Chairman & CEO, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC); and Shri K J Rathod, Director, Skill Development & MD, GSDM. The workshop also witnessed the presence of other senior state government officials from DET, GSDM, RDSDE, principals of ITIs, foreman Instructors and supervisor instructors.

Industry leaders from 36 organizations participated in the workshop, including NAMTECH,  Adani Skills and Education, Arvind Ltd, Asian Paints Limited, Cera Sanitaryware Ltd, DMG MORI India Pvt. Ltd., Festo India Pvt. Ltd., Fronius India Private Limited, Grasim Industries (a unit of Aditya Birla Insulator), Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., JSW, MG Motor India Private Limited, Micron Semiconductor, Nayara Energy Limited, Pidilite Industries Limited, Polycab India Ltd, Reliance Industries Limited, Schneider Electric, Tata Chemicals Limited (Mithapur), Tata Electronics Private Limited, Tata Motors, Welspun Living Limited, and Larsen & Toubro.

In addition, prominent organisations and industry associations such as Zydus Lifesciences Limited, Hitachi Hi-Rel Power Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Acer India Pvt. Ltd., American Welding Society, FICCI, GIDC Lodhika Industrial Association, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Sanand Industries Association, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Jhagadia Industries Association, Tata IIS, International Automobile Center of Excellence, Kaushalya – The Skill University actively participated in the event.

 

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(Release ID: 2147884)