**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Government of Rajasthan conducted a review meeting to assess skilling initiatives and strengthen employability outcomes in the state. Key discussion areas included the implementation of the PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme and the establishment of Skill India International Centres (SIIC) in Rajasthan. The review took place on February 13, 2026, with a focus on deepening Centre-State collaboration across flagship programs, apprenticeship engagement under NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) with a disbursal deadline of January 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PMKVY 4.0 and Apprenticeship:**
* Over 3.14 lakh candidates trained or oriented under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, with over 2.50 lakh successfully certified.
* Apprenticeship engagement under NAPS has crossed 1.04 lakh apprentices across 1,211 active establishments, with ₹24.98 crore disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer till 31 January 2026.
* **PM-SETU Scheme:**
* Rajasthan has identified key ITI clusters across multiple districts to implement a hub-and-spoke model aligning training with regional industrial demand.
* The scheme carries a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore over five years to upgrade 1,000 ITIs and five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), aiming to skill 20 lakh youth in modern and emerging trades.
* **Skill India International Centres (SIIC):**
* Discussions were held on establishing two SIICs in Rajasthan, to create structured pathways for overseas employment and global workforce mobility.
* **Other Initiatives:**
* Over 2.51 lakh artisans assessed under PM Vishwakarma.
* Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) operating in nine districts have enrolled nearly 12,000 candidates.
* Proposal reviewed for establishing a National Skill Training Institute in Bharatpur and upgrading NSTI (Women), Jaipur and NSTI, Jodhpur.
* **Commitments:**
* Both governments agreed to fast-track pending approvals, strengthen monitoring and governance frameworks, and deepen industry engagement.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** Must accelerate reforms in the skilling ecosystem, expedite infrastructure development, facilitate land allocation, and ensure robust monitoring mechanisms under PMKVY 4.0 and PM-SETU.
* **Action Required:** Provide full support in expediting infrastructure development, facilitating land allocation where required and ensuring robust monitoring mechanisms.
**Rajasthan Youth**
* **Impact:** Enhanced skilling opportunities and improved employability, both domestically and globally, aligned with modern and emerging trades.
* **Action Required:** Participate in skilling programs and apprenticeship opportunities.
**Industrial Sector in Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** Access to a steadily building, skilled workforce aligned with sectors such as automotive, electronics, petrochemicals, handicrafts, and export-oriented industries.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with skilling programs and provide practical training opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The central ministry responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship, which conducted the review meeting.
Rajasthan: The state whose skilling initiatives were reviewed and is central to the policy impact.
PM-SETU (PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs): A scheme to upgrade ITIs and improve employability, a key topic of the review.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A skill development scheme under which candidates are trained or oriented.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): A scheme promoting apprenticeship engagement.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
MSDE Reviews Skilling and Employability
Initiatives with Government of Rajasthan;
Accelerates PM-SETU, Apprenticeship and
International Skilling Plans
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, conducted a high-
level review meeting with the Government of Rajasthan today to assess the progress of ongoing skilling
initiatives and to chart the roadmap for strengthening employability outcomes in the State. The meeting
was chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, in the presence of Col.
Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Department of
Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Government of Rajasthan. The review was held at Kaushal
Bhawan and focused on deepening Centre–State collaboration across flagship programmes.
Rajasthan has emerged as a key partner in India’s skilling ecosystem, with one of the largest Industrial
Training Institute (ITI) networks in the country, comprising 1,537 ITIs, including 182 government and
1,355 private institutions. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, more than 3.14
lakh candidates have been trained or oriented in the State, with over 2.50 lakh successfully certified.
Apprenticeship engagement under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has crossed
1.04 lakh apprentices across 1,211 active establishments, with ₹24.98 crore disbursed through Direct
Benefit Transfer till 31 January 2026. In addition, over 2.51 lakh artisans have been assessed under PM
Vishwakarma, and Jan Shikshan Sansthans(JSS) operating in nine districts have enrolled nearly 12,000
candidates, with a high certification rate.
A major area of discussion was around establishing two Skill India International Centres (SIIC) in
Rajasthan and around the implementation of the PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through
Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme. Rajasthan has identified key ITI clusters across districts including
Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Jaipur, Balotra, Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Banswara to implement the hub-and-
spoke model aimed at aligning training with regional industrial demand. At the national level, PM-SETU
carries a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore over five years and seeks to upgrade 1,000 ITIs and five National
Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), with the objective of skilling 20 lakh youth in modern and emerging
trades.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jayant Chaudhary stated that Rajasthan’s scale and institutional depth
place it at the forefront of India’s skilling transformation. He emphasised that the next phase must focus
on enhancing quality, strengthening industry partnerships and ensuring measurable employment outcomes.
He noted that the transformation of ITIs under PM-SETU, expansion of apprenticeship participation and
creation of international skilling centres would collectively position Rajasthan’s youth to compete bothdomestically and globally. He further underlined the importance of aligning future skills such as
electronics, EV servicing and digital technologies with traditional sectors supported under PM
Vishwakarma, thereby integrating heritage and innovation within the State’s growth strategy.
Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore reiterated the State’s commitment to accelerating reforms in the skilling
ecosystem. He affirmed that Rajasthan would extend full support in expediting infrastructure
development, facilitating land allocation where required and ensuring robust monitoring mechanisms
under PMKVY 4.0 and PM-SETU. He highlighted that with over three lakh youth trained under PMKVY
and more than one lakh apprentices engaged, the State is steadily building a skilled workforce aligned
with sectors such as automotive, electronics, petrochemicals, handicrafts and export-oriented industries.
The meeting also reviewed the proposal for establishing a National Skill Training Institute in Bharatpur
and the upgradation of NSTI (Women), Jaipur and NSTI, Jodhpur. Discussions were held on setting up
Skill India International Centres in Jaipur and Bharatpur to create structured pathways for overseas
employment and global workforce mobility.
The review concluded with both Governments agreeing to fast-track pending approvals, strengthen
monitoring and governance frameworks, and deepen industry engagement to enhance placement-linked
outcomes. The deliberations reaffirmed a shared commitment to building a future-ready, inclusive and
globally competitive workforce, with Rajasthan playing a pivotal role in advancing India’s skilling
mission.***
SH
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