Five ITI clusters have received approval for investment plans worth ₹1,194.92 crore under PM-SETU. For students, the key next question is when approved upgrades become functioning workshops, courses and training opportunities.
The National Steering Committee cleared the plans on October 16, 2026, covering Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said cumulative approved investment under the programme now stands at ₹3,687 crore.
Which clusters are included?
| Cluster | Industry partner | Approved plan |
|---|---|---|
| Kataka, Odisha | Tata Steel Foundation | ₹240.50 crore |
| Pune, Maharashtra | BVG India consortium | ₹241 crore |
| Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra | Belrise Industries | ₹238.01 crore |
| Jammu | Eagle Infra India | ₹240 crore |
| Srinagar | Inderdeep Infra India | ₹235.41 crore |
The plans cover infrastructure, industry-aligned courses and trainer capacity. The ministry also reported that 3,744 instructors had received training under the programme’s Training of Trainers component by October.
How the model works
In a March parliamentary reply, the ministry explained that states and Union Territories select ITIs in consultation with industry and submit upgrade proposals. A national committee provides policy direction and monitors the scheme, while state-level committees oversee implementation.
The cluster approach connects a lead institute with other participating ITIs. It is intended to align training with regional industry needs rather than treating every campus as an isolated project. The October release identifies hub institutes and their linked spokes for each approved cluster.
What students should verify
Investment approval is not an admission notice, a completed construction project or a guaranteed job offer. Before making a training decision, students should look for their institute’s actual course list, eligibility requirements, admission dates, available equipment and recognised qualification.
Further reporting should track funds released and spent separately from plans approved, together with workshop readiness, instructor availability and placement outcomes. Those records will show whether the announced investment delivers better training.
Photo credit: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels, Pexels License. Representative workshop photograph; not an image of one of the approved ITI campuses.
Sources
- Skill Development Ministry: five investment plans, October 16, 2026
- Ministry’s Rajya Sabha reply: PM-SETU hub-and-spoke model, March 11, 2026
The National Desk covers India's politics, governance, security and public-interest news. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
