Andhra Pradesh Emerges as Pioneer of Industry-Led ITI Transformation; ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Secures Approval
New Delhi: May 30
In an important development under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, the National Steering Committee (NSC) has approved the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for the Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster in Andhra Pradesh, submitted by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) along with their academic partner New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH).
The approval marks the first-ever Strategic Investment Plan to be cleared under PM-SETU and makes Andhra Pradesh the first State to operationalise an industry partnership under the scheme.
The approval was given during the 3rd National Steering Committee Meeting of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, held at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.
This milestone is the first clear step towards carrying out PM-SETU’s goal of turning Government ITIs into industry-managed, results-focused institutions through strong partnerships between State Governments and top industry players.
A key result of the meeting was the approval of the Strategic Investment Plan for the Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster in Andhra Pradesh, submitted by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India. With this approval, Andhra Pradesh becomes the first State under PM-SETU to bring in an Anchor Industry Partner (AIP), marking a major step in putting the industry-led Hub-and-Spoke model planned under the scheme into action.
The approval of the Visakhapatnam Cluster is an important step towards changing Industrial Training Institutes into industry-managed, results-focused institutions that can meet changing workforce needs. This approval is expected to serve as an example for other States seeking to increase industry involvement in vocational education and training and to accelerate the rollout of PM-SETU programs across the country.
The National Steering Committee reviewed the overall progress of PM-SETU implementation across participating States and discussed policy and action steps to increase industry participation, improve how institutions are managed, make Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) more financially stable, and accelerate the start of projects under the scheme.
The discussions focused on improving industry-led management systems, encouraging skills training based on results, and building stronger partnerships between industry, State Governments, and training institutions to ensure India’s vocational education and training system remains responsive to new sector needs and future workforce demands.
PM-SETU, a major initiative of the Government of India with a budget of ₹60,000 crore, aims to transform 1,000 Government ITIs through an industry-led Hub-and-Spoke model. The scheme aims to update infrastructure, increase industry involvement, improve job-readiness, and establish National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) in fast-growing sectors, building a future-ready workforce prepared for advanced manufacturing and new technologies through stronger government-industry partnerships.
With 32 States and Union Territories having set up their State Steering Committees and 12 States/UTs having issued Requests for Proposals to invite industry participation in choosing Anchor Industry Partners — several of which are nearing completion in the coming weeks — PM-SETU is ready to enter a full industry-led implementation phase. A strong series of State-industry meetings, with many rounds completed and more planned for the coming weeks, shows growing alignment between industry interests and State readiness.
Central and State Governments are working closely together to ensure the progress made through preparation quickly translates into actual project work, with industry partnerships ready to drive ITI transformation on a large scale across the country. In the coming months, more Strategic Investment Plans are expected to get National Steering Committee approval, opening the way for a changed vocational education and training system for Viksit Bharat 2047.
