At least a dozen large companies have shown interest in partnering with the Union government for the Rs 60,000-crore National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation. Eight of these—including Reliance Group, Adani Group, Mahindra Group, JK Cement, Jindal Group, Toyota India, Schneider Electric and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel—have submitted their preferred states and sectoral interests to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. These partnerships will help set up “hub and spoke ITIs” to offer industry-aligned skills training, ET reported citing people aware of the matter.Under the hub-and-spoke model, designated ITIs will serve as central hubs for training and resources, while connected vocational institutes (spokes) will access advanced infrastructure and faculty support from the hub.Besides the eight companies that have already submitted proposals, discussions are underway with Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, and the Aditya Birla Group, as well as major public sector units like Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, according to ET.The scheme, cleared by the Union Cabinet in May, aims to upgrade 1,000 ITIs and train two million youth over five years, focusing on sectors aligned with future industry demands. Funding for the initiative includes Rs 30,000 crore from the Centre, Rs 20,000 crore from states, and Rs 10,000 crore from industry. The central government’s share will be co-financed 50:50 by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.Arunkumar Pillai, CEO of NAMTECH (New Age Makers’ Institute of Technology), a training initiative by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, said: “NAMTECH aims to train 500,000 youths by 2028. We stand ready to partner with the government to scale this mission and create a globally competitive, future-ready workforce.”An internal ministry presentation, reviewed by ET, showed that JK Cement has proposed to work in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, offering skills training in construction, electrical and electronics, renewable energy, and hospitality.Mahindra Group has shortlisted Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, proposing training in automotive and hospitality. Reliance Group has pitched for work in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, covering sectors like renewables, retail, advanced manufacturing, and petrochemical engineering.Jindal Group plans to impart training in both traditional and new-age trades in Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Toyota India has proposed to upgrade ITIs in Karnataka for automobile-related trades, while Adani Group aims to upgrade institutes across Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the Northeast for training in areas such as solar power, drones, and port operations.
