Andhra Pradesh Ist to Roll Out PM‑SETU as Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster Plan by AM/NS India and NAMTECH Gets Govt Approval

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in India to operationalize the ₹60,000‑crore PM‑SETU scheme, with the National Steering Committee approving the Strategic Investment Plan for the Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster led by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) and NAMTECH. This marks the first industry‑academic partnership cleared under PM‑SETU, setting a precedent for ITI transformation nationwide.

The approval was accorded during the 3rd National Steering Committee Meeting convened by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

The milestone represents the first concrete step towards implementing PM-SETU's vision of transforming Government ITIs into industry-managed, outcome-oriented institutions through deep partnerships between State Governments and leading industry players.

Andhra Pradesh First to Operationalize PM‑SETU

Key Highlights

• Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM‑SETU)
• Approval: First‑ever Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) cleared by the National Steering Committee (NSC)
• Location: Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster, Andhra Pradesh
• Partners: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (Anchor Industry Partner) + NAMTECH (Academic Partner)
• Outcome: Andhra Pradesh becomes the first state to operationalize PM‑SETU’s industry‑led Hub‑and‑Spoke model

National Steering Committee Meeting

• Date & Venue: 3rd NSC meeting, Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi
• Chair: Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
• Participants: Directorate General of Training, Capacity Building Commission, NCVET, ministries (Commerce, Heavy Industries, Labour), state governments, industry leaders (HAL, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, ITC, AM/NS India), and development partners (ADB, World Bank)

Significance of the Approval

• First Anchor Industry Partner (AIP): AM/NS India onboarded under PM‑SETU
• Model for Other States: Visakhapatnam cluster expected to serve as a template for industry‑driven vocational training reforms
• Industry‑Managed ITIs: Transition from government‑run to outcome‑oriented, industry‑aligned institutions
• Future Workforce: Aligns vocational education with evolving sectoral demands and advanced manufacturing needs

PM‑SETU Scheme Overview

Feature	Details
Budget	₹60,000 crore
Scope	Transform 1,000 Government ITIs
Model	Industry‑led Hub‑and‑Spoke
Focus	Infrastructure modernization, industry engagement, employability outcomes
Goal	Establish National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) in high‑growth sectors for Viksit Bharat 2047

Next Steps

• Pipeline: 32 States/UTs have set up State Steering Committees; 12 have floated RFPs for Anchor Industry Partners
• Implementation Phase: Several proposals nearing closure; more SIPs expected to be approved in coming months
• National Impact: Accelerates India’s vocational education reforms, ensuring ITIs remain responsive to future workforce requirements

India’s Skill Revolution Accelerates: PM Modi Unveils PM-SETU, Felicitates ITI Toppers, Inaugurates 1,200 School Skill Labs

At a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi presided over the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, felicitating 46 All India Toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country. This marked the 4th edition of the National Skill Convocation, a unique initiative that was first conceptualised under the inspiration of the Prime Minister to make skill development aspirational.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also launched PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) — a landmark ₹60,000 crore centrally sponsored scheme to transform 1,000 Government ITIs across India into modern, industry-aligned training institutions.

PM-SETU will follow a hub-and-spoke model, with 200 hub ITIs linked to 800 spoke ITIs. Each hub will be equipped with advanced infrastructure, innovation and incubation centres, production units, training of trainer facilities, and placement services, while the spokes will extend access and outreach. The scheme will:

• Introduce new, demand-driven courses and revamp existing ones in collaboration with industry;
• Set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with credible Anchor Industry Partners to manage clusters and ensure outcome-based training;
• Create pathways for long-term diplomas, short-term courses, and executive programs;
• Strengthen 5 National Skill Training Institutes in - Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), as Centres of Excellence with global partnerships.

Under the first phase of PM-SETU, 15 hub-and-spoke ITI clusters have been identified across the country, spanning diverse regions and industrial ecosystems. These include 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), and Guwahati (Assam)

Each cluster will serve as a centre of excellence in skills, equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, and industry-led training, creating model ecosystems that can be replicated nationwide.

Adding a transformative step for school education, the Prime Minister also virtually inaugurated 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs set up in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 34 States and UTs.

These labs are designed to expose school-going children, including those from rural and tribal areas, to hands-on training in 12 high-demand sectors such as Information Technology, Automotive, Agriculture, Electronics, Logistics, BFSI and Tourism. Each lab is equipped with modern machinery, digital tools and simulation-based learning modules. In line with NEP 2020 and the CBSE curriculum, 1,200 vocational teachers have been trained to deliver industry-relevant learning, building an early pipeline of future-ready talent. This initiative will ensure that skilling starts at the school level, empowering students to explore multiple career pathways early in life.

In his address, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi underscored the central role of Industrial Training Institutes in shaping India’s skilled workforce. He said –

ITIs are not only premier institutions of industrial education, they are also the workshops of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.” He noted that these institutes are nurturing millions of young Indians with practical knowledge and employable skills, turning them into confident contributors to the nation’s economy. The Prime Minister emphasised that as India marches towards becoming a skill-based economy, ITIs will remain the bedrock of this transformation, equipping youth with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global market.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, said: “Today, Hon’ble Prime Minister has given a clear message to India’s youth — focus on your skills, pursue quality education and keep moving forward with confidence. Eleven years ago, when he created a dedicated Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, he laid the strong foundation for a Viksit Bharat. With initiatives like Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, PM-SETU and the Skill Labs, we are carrying forward that vision to empower every young Indian to become self-reliant, capable and globally competitive.”

These announcements reaffirm the Government’s commitment to transforming India into a skill-based economy, preparing youth for opportunities in India and across the world, and accelerating the journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047.