New Delhi, Sep 4: The government is calling for greater industry participation in its ambitious ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU initiative, as India steps up efforts to build a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing industrial and energy landscape.
The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme is aimed at giving vocational training a major upgrade by modernising Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), improving practical learning facilities and aligning courses more closely with the needs of employers.
The initiative comes at a time when India’s industrial economy is evolving quickly. The expansion of manufacturing, renewable energy, power infrastructure, automation and advanced technologies is creating demand for workers who can combine technical knowledge with hands-on skills.
A key feature of PM-SETU is the stronger role being envisaged for industry in the management and development of ITI clusters. Businesses can contribute to curriculum design, training methods, equipment selection and other aspects of vocational education, helping ensure that students are trained for real-world workplace requirements.
For industry, the programme offers an opportunity to develop a stronger and more dependable talent pipeline. Companies across manufacturing, power, engineering, construction and emerging energy segments increasingly require workers with specialised technical skills, making closer collaboration with training institutions important.
For students and job seekers, upgraded ITIs could provide better access to modern equipment, practical training and industry exposure. Stronger links between institutes and employers could also improve opportunities for apprenticeships and employment after training.
The initiative is particularly significant for India’s energy sector, which is undergoing a major transformation with investments in renewable power, transmission, storage, electric mobility and energy-efficient technologies. These developments are creating new categories of jobs and increasing the need for specialised skills.
PM-SETU therefore goes beyond upgrading classrooms and workshops. Its larger objective is to bring vocational education closer to the changing realities of the workplace and create stronger connections between students, training institutions and businesses.
As India continues to expand its industrial and energy capabilities, a skilled workforce will remain one of the key drivers of sustainable growth. Greater industry participation in vocational education could help bridge the skills gap while giving young Indians better opportunities to build careers in some of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.