PM SETU Scheme Launched to Modernize 1,000 ITIs Nationwide

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM SETU Scheme (Prime Minister’s Skill Enhancement and Technical Upgradation) on 4 October 2025 at the Skills Convocation held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. With a budget outlay of ₹60,000 crore, the PM SETU scheme is a landmark initiative designed to modernize and make 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country industry-ready, thereby bridging the skill gap and boosting employability. This transformative mission aligns with India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047”, focusing on creating a skilled, innovation-driven workforce to meet the evolving needs of global industries.

About PM SETU Scheme

The PM SETU Scheme (Skill Enhancement and Technical Upgradation) seeks to revitalize India’s vocational training ecosystem by transforming ITIs into modern, aspirational, and industry-integrated institutions.

It focuses on,

• Modernizing infrastructure and curriculum.
• Promoting industry partnerships for hands-on learning.
• Building global-standard labs and model facilities.
• Ensuring better learning outcomes and job readiness for students.

Through this scheme, ITIs will evolve into centers of excellence for both traditional and emerging trades, including AI, automation, green energy, robotics, and manufacturing.

Objectives of the PM SETU Yojana

• Improve the Quality of ITI Training: Upgrading facilities, workshops, and teaching methods to meet international skill standards.
• Align Curriculum with Industry Needs: Revising syllabi and incorporating practical industrial training for better employability.
• Strengthen Industry Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between ITIs and private sector industries for apprenticeship and internship programs.
• Promote Holistic Development: Making ITIs centers of innovation and entrepreneurship, not just skill centers.
• Make ITIs Aspirational Institutions: Encouraging youth to pursue vocational training as a respected and rewarding career path.

Budget and Implementation Plan

• Total Outlay: ₹60,000 crore
• Implementation Period: Five years (2025–2030)
• Coverage: 1,000 ITI Institutes (200 hubs + 800 spokes)
• Beneficiaries: Around 2 million youth expected to receive employable skills.
• Technology Focus: Each ITI will have SAP-based digital learning and management systems for transparent and efficient operation.

These institutes will be upgraded with smart labs, simulation-based learning, and AI-powered assessments, ensuring skill parity with global standards.

National Centers of Excellence (NCoE)

Under PM SETU, five National Centers of Excellence will be established to provide advanced trainer training and industry-relevant upskilling.

Locations of NCoEs.

• Ludhiana (Punjab) – Manufacturing and Textile Engineering
• Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) – Leather and Footwear Design
• Bhubaneswar (Odisha) – Industrial Automation and Robotics
• Hyderabad (Telangana) – Information Technology and AI
• Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – Electrical and Electronics Engineering

These centers will partner with global institutions and industries to ensure world-class curriculum and exposure for Indian trainers and students.

Phase 1 Implementation: ITI Cluster Model

The scheme will adopt a Hub-and-Spoke Model for regional collaboration and resource sharing.

15 ITI Clusters Selected in Phase 1.

• Sonipat (Haryana)
• Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
• Bijnor and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)
• Haridwar (Uttarakhand)
• Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
• Bengaluru Urban (Karnataka)
• Bharatpur (Rajasthan)
• Darbhanga and Patna (Bihar)
• Hoshiarpur (Punjab)
• Hyderabad (Telangana)
• Sambalpur (Odisha)
• Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Guwahati (Assam)

These clusters will act as centers of innovation and collaboration, each focusing on specific industrial sectors like manufacturing, IT, electrical engineering, or automotive technology.

Significance of PM SETU Scheme

• Bridges Skill Gap: Strengthens alignment between education, industry, and employment.
• Empowers Youth: Enhances employability for India’s large young workforce.
• Supports Make in India: Develops domestic talent for industrial and manufacturing sectors.
• Boosts Entrepreneurship: Encourages innovation and self-employment through skill incubation.
• Drives Digital India Goals: Integrates digital learning and management systems into vocational training.

The scheme also reinforces Atmanirbhar Bharat by ensuring India’s industries are powered by home-grown skilled professionals.

Static Facts

• Full Form: PM SETU – Prime Minister’s Skill Enhancement and Technical Upgradation
• Launched by: PM Narendra Modi
• Launch Date: 4 October 2025
• Venue: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
• Budget: ₹60,000 crore
• Implementation Period: 2025–2030 (Five Years)
• Coverage: 1,000 ITIs (200 hubs + 800 spokes)