THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, OCTOBER 12, 2026
AM/NS India has
joined hands with the Centre and the governments of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
to upgrade nine government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the
PM-SETU scheme, with a combined approved investment of around ₹440 crore.
Shareholders'
Agreements (SHAs) have been signed between the Directorate General of Training
(DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the two
state governments and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), paving
the way for the implementation of approved Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs)
for the ITI clusters in Surat and Visakhapatnam.
The initiative covers
five government ITIs in Surat, Gujarat, and four in Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh, marking a significant step towards strengthening India's vocational
education system through greater industry participation and modern training
infrastructure.
Under the partnership
framework, dedicated Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) will be established to
oversee the upgradation and operations of the two ITI clusters. AM/NS India
will hold a 51 per cent stake in each SPV, while the Centre and the respective
state governments will each hold a 24.5 per cent stake.
The Surat cluster has
an approved investment of ₹240
crore, while the Visakhapatnam cluster accounts for ₹200 crore. Together, the
projects constitute one of the largest industry commitments approved
so far under the PM-SETU scheme, which has a total approved proposed investment
of ₹3,446 crore across its first 14
Strategic Investment Plans.
Speaking on the
occasion, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, said the signing of the agreements marked the beginning of a
transformative journey for the country's ITIs rather than its culmination.
With India securing a
place among the world's top 10 performers at the WorldSkills competition held
recently in Shanghai, the focus must now be on developing PM-SETU institutions
and Aspirational Institutes into centres of excellence capable of nurturing
future WorldSkills champions, she said.
The objective is not
limited to upgrading infrastructure but also to raising aspirations, improving
training quality and delivering better outcomes across the skilling ecosystem,
Mukherjee added.
AM/NS India will
implement the projects in collaboration with New Age Makers' Institute of
Technology (NAMTECH), its academic and technical partner. While AM/NS India
will bring its manufacturing expertise and industry insights to the initiative,
NAMTECH will support curriculum enhancement, training delivery reforms, faculty
development and academic innovation.
The proposed
interventions include modernisation of workshops, laboratories and training
infrastructure, introduction of emerging technologies and industry-relevant
trades, and revision of existing curricula to meet evolving industrial
requirements.
The programme will
also focus on strengthening instructor training, building faculty capabilities
and expanding hands-on learning opportunities to equip trainees with practical
skills aligned with workplace requirements.
The initiatives are
expected to improve training standards, enhance employability and make ITI
graduates better prepared for the changing needs of industry.
The PM-SETU scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India with a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore. It aims to transform the country's vocational education and training ecosystem through industry partnerships, institutional reforms and modern infrastructure.
The scheme envisages upgrading 1,000 government ITIs across the country and strengthening five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), with a focus on creating a skilled workforce equipped to meet the requirements of a rapidly evolving industrial and technological landscape.
