A dozen major private and public sector companies have expressed interest in partnering with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Rs 60,000-crore National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation, reports said on Tuesday.
The scheme, which aims to modernise vocational education in India, has already drawn formal proposals from eight large corporates, including Reliance Group, Adani Group, Mahindra Group, JK Cement, Jindal Group, Toyota India, Schneider Electric, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel.
These companies have submitted to the ministry their preferred states and sectors where they intend to establish “hub-and-spoke” model ITIs.
Under this model, designated hub ITIs will serve as central points for training, infrastructure, and curriculum, while smaller vocational institutes acting as spokes will be linked to the hubs to access advanced resources and expertise.
In addition to the eight firms that have submitted detailed proposals, reports suggested that the ministry is in discussions with several others, including Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, and the Aditya Birla Group. Talks are also ongoing with leading public sector enterprises such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for undertaking ITI upgradation projects in their respective industrial zones.
Approved by the Union Cabinet, in May this year, the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation aims to modernise 1,000 ITIs and provide skills training to two million youth over a five-year period.
The project was announced in the Union Budget for 2024–25 and will be jointly financed by the Centre, states, and industry. The central government will contribute Rs 30,000 crore, while states are expected to pitch in rs 20,000 crore, and the industry will contribute Rs 10,000 crore.
Half of the Centre’s contribution will be co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, bringing international institutional support into the national skilling mission.
According to an internal presentation by the ministry, JK Cement has proposed to set up ITI hubs in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh with a focus on training in construction, electrical and electronics, renewable energy, and hospitality.
Mahindra Group is looking to operate in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, offering skill development programmes in the automotive and hospitality sectors. Reliance Group has identified Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh as preferred states, where it plans to focus on training in renewables, retail, advanced manufacturing, and petrochemical engineering.
Jindal Group has proposed to work in clusters across Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand, offering training in both conventional and emerging trades.
Toyota India has expressed interest in upgrading ITIs in Karnataka, focusing on automobile-related trades. Adani Group, which has proposed one of the most geographically diverse plans, has identified Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and several Northeastern states.
The group aims to train youth in sectors including solar energy, drone technology, and port operations.