The Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), Chennai, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, has commenced admissions for its newly introduced National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-approved career-oriented courses aimed at creating a skilled workforce for India's rapidly expanding footwear manufacturing sector.

Addressing a press conference held today (03.08.2026) at the Press Information Bureau, Chennai, the Director of the Central Footwear Training Institute, Shri K. Murali, invited students who have completed Class 10, Class 12, Diploma, or Graduation to enrol in the Institute's industry-oriented programmes.

Shri K. Murali said that established in 1957, CFTI Chennai has been one of India's premier institutions dedicated exclusively to footwear technology education, skill development, research, and entrepreneurship for nearly seven decades. Over the past 69 years, the Institute has trained more than 2.66 lakh candidates, including international trainees, many of whom are employed in leading footwear manufacturing companies in India and abroad.

He informed that all the Institute's long-term and medium-term programmes have now been upgraded to NCVET-approved courses, replacing the earlier NSQF-based programmes. The revised curriculum has been designed to meet the changing requirements of the footwear industry and comprises 70 per cent practical workshop training and 30 per cent classroom instruction, enabling students to acquire industry-ready skills through extensive hands-on learning.

The Institute currently offers seven career-oriented programmes, including courses in footwear manufacturing, footwear design, product development, advanced footwear technology, production management, quality assurance, CAD, industrial engineering, and a specialised one-year Sports Shoe Manufacturing course to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the sports footwear sector.

Highlighting the rapid expansion of the footwear industry in Tamil Nadu, Shri Murali said that leading multinational and Indian footwear manufacturers are establishing large manufacturing facilities across Ulundurpet, Vellore, Perambalur, Karur, Tindivanam, Ranipet, Ambur, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Jayankondam, and other industrial clusters in the State. The proposed investments, exceeding ₹15,075 crore, are expected to generate a demand for around 1.76 lakh shop-floor employees and over 3,900 supervisory and middle-management professionals during the next two to three years.

Admissions are currently open for the following NCVET-approved programmes:

S. No	Name of the Course	NSQF Level	Eligibility	Duration
1	Advance Diploma in Footwear Manufacture & Design (ADFMD)	5	12th Pass	24 Months
2	Technician - Footwear Manufacturing (FM)	3.5	10th Pass	12 Months
3	Jr. Technician- Footwear Design & Production (FDP)	3	10th Pass	6 Months
4	Master Technician -  Footwear Design & Product Development (FDPD)	4	12th Pass	12 Months
5	Technical Supervisor – Advanced Footwear Technology (AFT)	5	Any Diploma	12 Months
6	Technical Manager - Footwear Technology (FT)	6	Any Graduate	18 Months
7	Jr. Technical Supervisor – Sports Shoe Manufacturing (SSM)	4.5	12th Pass	12 Months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director, Press Information Bureau, Chennai, Shri Arun Kumar, was also present during the press conference.

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