The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship today convened a National Conference of Skill Secretaries on PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation Through Upgraded ITIs) and NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) to assess the implementation of key initiatives under the Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) initiative. The deliberations were held in preparation for the forthcoming PRAGATI review scheduled under the chairpersonship of Prime Minister on 30 September 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening Centre-State coordination, accelerating implementation and resolving operational bottlenecks for the two flagship schemes.

The session on PM-SETU reviewed the progress achieved by States and Union Territories across critical implementation milestones. The Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) for 10 clusters across seven States have been approved, entailing a cumulative project outlay of approximately ₹2,493 crore while all 36 States and Union Territories have identified clusters and created dedicated State budget heads, while 35 have constituted State Steering Committees.

The session of NAPS highlighted the continued expansion of apprenticeship training as an industry-linked pathway combining theoretical learning with structured on-the-job experience. From FY 2022-23 to September 22, 2026, 44.75 lakh apprentices have been engaged, and 47,452 establishments were active under the programme. Women’s participation increased from 20.19 per cent to 27.52 per cent, while the share of MSMEs rose from 44.84 per cent to 45.81 per cent. A third-party evaluation further indicated that 72 per cent of apprentices received job offers, 53.7 per cent completed training and 96 per cent reported access to safety equipment. The State and Union Territory performance was also reviewed across establishment activation, apprenticeship engagement, contract approvals, training completion, assessment, certification and institutional governance.

In his address, Shri Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Minister-in-charge, Higher Education Department and Technical Education, Training and Skill Development Department, Government of West Bengal, said: “The inclusion of PM-SETU and NAPS under PRAGATI underlines the Government’s resolve to translate policy into measurable outcomes. By bringing together the Centre, States, industry and training institutions, we aim to accelerate implementation, strengthen accountability and ensure that every intervention creates meaningful opportunities for India’s youth.”

Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, said, “Peer learning among States, sustained industry engagement and responsive implementation will be critical to advancing PM-SETU and NAPS. States must share successful practices, learn from frontrunners and identify the flexibilities required to accelerate progress. As PM-SETU is founded on a public-private partnership model, continuous dialogue and mutual trust between government and industry will be essential to resolve challenges in a timely manner. Equally important is the institutionalisation and annual review of district and State skill development plans to ensure that skilling interventions remain aligned with hyperlocal economic opportunities and workforce needs.”

The meeting brought together senior officials of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, senior officials and representatives of State and Union Territory Governments, establishments and other stakeholders associated with the implementation of PM-SETU and NAPS. The deliberations provided States and Union Territories an opportunity to share implementation challenges, emerging opportunities and practices that could support wider replication.

The Ministry reiterated the importance of time-bound action, stronger institutional coordination and sustained industry participation for accelerating outcomes under both initiatives. The inputs emerging from the National Review Meeting will contribute to the forthcoming PRAGATI deliberations and support a coordinated roadmap for strengthening ITIs, expanding apprenticeship opportunities and building a future-ready workforce aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

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