Srinagar, Oct 16 (KNS): The Centre on Friday approved investment plans worth Rs 475.41 crore for upgrading 10 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme.

The approvals cover two ITI clusters in Jammu and Srinagar, with five institutes in each cluster set to receive infrastructure upgrades, modern training facilities and industry-linked courses aimed at improving employment opportunities for young people.

The decisions were taken at the sixth meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC), chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Debashree Mukherjee, in New Delhi.

According to the ministry, Rs 240 crore has been approved for the Jammu ITI cluster in partnership with Eagle Infra India Limited.

Government ITI Jammu will function as the hub, while Government ITIs at R S Pura, Nowshera, Samba and Kathua will serve as associated institutes.

Similarly, Rs 235.41 crore has been approved for the Srinagar ITI cluster in partnership with Inderdeep Infra India Limited.

Government ITI Srinagar will serve as the hub, with Government ITIs at Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam and Charar-i-Sharief functioning as spokes.

The projects will focus on upgrading training infrastructure, introducing courses aligned with industry requirements, improving instructor skills and strengthening links between technical institutions and employers.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The ministry said the objective was to equip students with practical skills relevant to changing industrial and technological requirements.

Mukherjee said the progress made by Jammu and Kashmir under the scheme was encouraging and reflected efforts to expand skill development opportunities in the region.

She urged participating institutions to work towards ISO certification and include at least one WorldSkills-aligned trade or competency area in their implementation plans.

The committee approved five ITI cluster investment plans worth Rs 1,194.92 crore across Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Odisha.

Apart from the two J&K clusters, Rs 240.50 crore was approved for Kataka in Odisha, Rs 241 crore for Pune and Rs 238.01 crore for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra.

With the latest approvals, the cumulative investment sanctioned under PM-SETU has reached Rs 3,687 crore.

The committee was also informed that 3,744 trainers had undergone training through National Skill Training Institutes under the scheme as of October 2026.

The ministry did not specify when the infrastructure upgrades at the 10 J&K institutes would be completed or when the proposed new training courses would become operational. (KNS)