Jaipur: Rajasthan Monday became the first state to sign a tripartite shareholders’ agreement under the Centre’s PM-SETU scheme, with a Rs 241-crore investment plan approved for upgrading five govt industrial training institutes (ITIs) in the Bhiwadi cluster.The scheme aims to upgrade 1,000 govt ITIs nationwide, comprising 200 hubs and 800 spokes. “In Rajasthan, training will cover more than 32 courses in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, robotics, drone technology, 5G networks, electric vehicles, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, green energy and construction automation,” said Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.Under the plan, govt ITI Bhiwadi will serve as the hub, with ITIs in Alwar, Neemrana, Tijara and Kishangarh Bas functioning as spoke institutions. The cluster will focus on modernising infrastructure, upgrading existing trades and introducing courses aligned with industry requirements.The upgraded facilities will include smart classrooms, modern laboratories and digital learning content. Students will also get opportunities for on-the-job training and practical work experience, with courses planned in advanced manufacturing, automation and engineering to meet the needs of the NCR region’s automobile, electronics and manufacturing industries.The state plans to establish 12 hub-spoke clusters. Proposals have been invited for anchor industry partners for the remaining 11 clusters in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bharatpur, Banswara, Balotra, Bikaner, Bhilwara, Kotputli, Sikar and Pali.Five National Skill Training Institutes will also be developed as Centres of Excellence through international partnerships, with the aim of strengthening trainer skills and improving the quality of vocational education.
