States, Centre Align on ₹60,000 Cr ITI Upgrade Scheme, Digital Hub and Industry Partnership Skilling Vision
All participating States and the Centre at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) convened the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers – Kaushal Manthan in Chandigarh, a landmark dialogue aimed at deepening collaboration between the Centre, States and Union Territories on the future of skills and entrepreneurship on Aug 28, agreed to prepare comprehensive State Action Plans, deepen partnerships with industry, and leverage digital platforms like the Skill India Digital Hub for transparency, scale and measurable outcomes. With this renewed consensus, Kaushal Manthan has laid the foundation for a coordinated skilling architecture for implementing skilling schemes effectively.
At the heart of the conference chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, was the recently approved ₹60,000 crore National Scheme for ITI Upgradation and Setting up of Centre of Excellence for Skilling, which seeks to transform 1,000 Government ITIs into world-class institutes of excellence through a hub-and-spoke model, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The transformation will be led by industry-led special purpose vehicles.
The scheme was discussed alongside other flagship initiatives such as PMKVY 4.0, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Jan Shikshan Sansthan, with participants emphasising the need for stronger alignment with State-level programs and regional industry demands. The agenda also covered innovative financing mechanisms like the Skill Impact Bond, the restructured Model Skill Loan Scheme, and integration of vocational training with mainstream education under NEP 2020 through credit frameworks and apprenticeship-embedded degree programs.
The conference brought together Skill Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officers and policy leaders from across North India including Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Jayant Chaudhary underscored the importance of coordination and convergence. He said, “India’s aspiration to become the skill capital of the world depends on our ability to work in true convergence. Each State has unique strengths, but only by pooling resources, aligning strategies, and engaging industry as equal partners can we transform our ITIs, empower our youth, and create an ecosystem where skills lead to jobs, entrepreneurship, and dignity of labour. Kaushal Manthan is not just a conference—it is a call for united action to make skilling aspirational and impactful for Viksit Bharat@2047.”
“All our skilling schemes today are designed to be flexible, transparent, and accessible. NAPS offers complete flexibility for apprenticeships specially with the new revised Apprenticeship Portal, while the new ITI Upgradation scheme with cluster-based mapping and a 5-year plan will ensure long-term impact. But let me stress — skill development is not just the responsibility of the government; it is also for students to step forward and seize the best opportunities.
We must start recognising language as a skill, and even sports as a skill, because tomorrow’s economy — from manufacturing to the sporting industry — will demand it. The future lies in convergence, and through it, we are preparing a workforce that is aspirational, future-ready, and globally relevant,” he further added.
Senior Officers from the state government showcased their pioneering efforts to build vibrant skill and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Punjab outlined its reforms across ITIs, including Centres of Excellence and new-age trades. Haryana highlighted initiatives like the Drone Didi scheme, dual training systems and the establishment of India’s first Skill University. Bihar presented its Industry 4.0 collaborations, advanced training programs and the newly established Jan Nayak Karpuri Thakur Skill University.
Jammu & Kashmir shared the ambitious Mission YUVA initiative that is set to generate over four lakh employment opportunities through grassroots entrepreneurship, while Uttarakhand detailed its Centres of Excellence and partnerships with industry leaders such as Tata Technologies and Hero to create an Industry 4.0-ready workforce.Their interventions enriched the dialogue, ensuring that the discussions were rooted in the realities of diverse geographies and economic contexts, while reinforcing the spirit of cooperative federalism in driving the skilling agenda forward.
The proceedings witnessed participation of Ministers across various select States including Shri Aman Arora, Cabinet Minister for Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training, Government of Punjab; Shri Harjot Singh Bains, Cabinet Minister for Technical Education & Industrial Training, Higher Education & Languages and School Education, Government of Punjab; Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Cabinet Minister for Industries, Food and Supplies, and Environment, Forest & Wildlife, Government of NCT of Delhi; Shri Rajesh Dharmani, Cabinet Minister for Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training, Government of Himachal Pradesh; Shri Gaurav Gautam, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Sports (I/C), Law and Legislative, Government of Haryana; Shri Kapil Dev Aggarwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education & Skill Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh; and Shri Krishan Kumar Vishnoi, Minister of State for Industry & Commerce and Sports and Youth Affairs, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Government of Rajasthan. The conference also saw the presence of Shri Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Vice Chairman, National Apprenticeship and Sports, Skill Planning & Entrepreneurship Policy Making.
