The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will convene the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation (SARTHI) on June 12, 2026, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The meeting will be chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary.
The initiative has been launched as a high-level advisory platform aimed at driving reforms and strengthening India’s Industrial Training Institute (ITI) ecosystem. Senior representatives from the Central and State Governments, industry bodies, regulatory institutions, and the broader skilling ecosystem will participate in discussions focused on the future of vocational education and workforce development.
SARTHI has been established under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) to promote policy convergence, strategic dialogue, and coordinated action among stakeholders involved in vocational training. The platform is expected to provide long-term guidance on curriculum development, assessment reforms, governance, quality assurance, institutional strengthening, and industry engagement.
India’s CTS currently operates through a vast network of 13,888 ITIs, including 3,326 government-run and 10,562 private institutions, offering training across 169 National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-compliant trades. As workforce demands continue to evolve, the government aims to ensure that vocational education remains aligned with emerging industry requirements.
The first SARTHI meeting will review the current status of the Craftsmen Training Scheme and discuss several key reform areas. These include implementation of the National ITI Grading Framework, strengthening assessment systems through technology, institutionalising the Annual All India ITI Skill Competition, enhancing instructor training standards, increasing women’s participation in vocational education, and improving governance and industry linkages.
The meeting will also enable states and stakeholders to share best practices and implementation experiences. Through SARTHI, MSDE aims to build a more responsive, inclusive, industry-oriented, and future-ready vocational training ecosystem capable of meeting India’s evolving skill requirements.
