Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in India to operationalize an industry partnership 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, submitted by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) in collaboration with its academic partner, New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH).
The approval, granted during the third National Steering Committee meeting convened by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in New Delhi, marks the first Strategic Investment Plan cleared under the ₹60,000 crore PM-SETU scheme. It is a significant milestone in the government’s effort to transform Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into industry-managed, outcome-oriented institutions.
The meeting was chaired by MSDE Secretary Debashree Mukherjee and attended by senior officials from the Directorate General of Training, National Council for Vocational Education and Training, Capacity Building Commission, industry leaders, state government representatives, and development partners including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
With the approval of the Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster, Andhra Pradesh has become the first state to onboard an Anchor Industry Partner under PM-SETU. The initiative aims to strengthen industry participation in vocational education and improve employability by aligning training with evolving workforce demands.
The National Steering Committee also reviewed the progress of PM-SETU across participating states and discussed measures to enhance governance, financial sustainability, and industry engagement. The scheme seeks to modernize 1,000 government ITIs through an industry-led Hub-and-Spoke model and establish National Centres of Excellence in high-growth sectors.
As more states move toward finalizing industry partnerships, PM-SETU is entering a crucial implementation phase, with the goal of creating a future-ready workforce and strengthening India’s vocational education ecosystem in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
