Parliament Question: Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2554 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 CRAFTSMEN TRAINING SCHEME (CTS) 2554: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: DR. KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO KALE: SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR: SHRI DULU MAHATO: SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL: SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR: SHRI ANANTA NAYAK: SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI: SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI: SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state? (a) whether the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) has been strengthened to improve enrolment, course completion and placement outcomes of trainees in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) during the last three years, State/UT-wise including Keonjhar and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituencies, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the introduction of New Age trades under the ITI framework is aligned with emerging skill requirements in areas such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, drones, cybersecurity, semiconductors and green energy, and the extent of their expansion in the said Constituencies, if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to augment institutional and trainer capacity, including ITI upgradation and instructor certification along with the current status thereof in the said Constituencies; (d) whether the Government proposes to further expand ITI capacity or introduce additional future-oriented trades and if so, the details thereof with specific reference to the said Constituencies; (e) the current status of upgrading Government ITIs in the industrial and mining district of Dhanbad, Bokaro and Ranchi into Model ITIs under the PM-SETU (National Scheme for ITI Upgradation); and (f) the details of specific New Age trades like Drone Technician and Semiconductor Maintenance introduced in Jharkhand to address local industrial demand ?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), implements the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through a network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) for skilling the youth. Under CTS, training is imparted in 169 courses through 14,688 ITIs (Government - 3,345 & Private - 11,343) across the country. The trade curriculum under CTS is updated periodically in consultation with industry, academia, and State/UT Governments to integrate emerging technologies, modern tools & equipment, and machinery. In addition, pedagogy and assessment systems are also strengthened. These initiatives are designed to align training with current industry standards, improve overall quality, enrolment, and prepare trainees for both wage employment and self- employment. During the last three years, a total of 14 CTS courses have been developed and 22 existing courses have been revised to align with industry requirements. The enrolment in ITIs has increased from 12.51 lakh in year 2022-23 to 14.70 lakh in year 2025-26. In the Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, 17 ITIs are functioning, comprising 04 Government ITIs and 13 Private ITIs. In the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency, 08 ITIs are functioning, of which 06 are Government ITIs and 02 are Private ITIs. (b) Under CTS, the DGT has introduced 31 New Age trades covering emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, cybersecurity, semiconductors and green energy. These New Age trades have been designed in consultation with industry and other stakeholders to align training with evolving technological advancements and emerging skill requirements. The details of these 31 New Age trades imparting training in these trades, are available at Annexure-1. In Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, four New Age trades are currently being implemented in two Government ITIs, while in Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency, one New Age trade is currently being implemented in one Government ITI. (c) The Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme to enhance the overall quality and relevance of vocational training with upgraded labs, machines, and industry-aligned curriculum in the country. The scheme includes upgradation of 1,000 Government ITIs (200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs) in a Hub and Spoke model wherein upgradation includes smart classrooms, modern labs, digital content, and new courses aligned to industry needs through industry-led Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). The selection of ITIs under the PM-SETU Scheme is led by the respective State/UT Governments in consultation with industry, ensuring alignment with emerging skill needs and local industrial potential. In the Keonjhar Lok Sabha constituency, the Government of Odisha has identified two ITIs for upgradation, namely Govt. ITI Barbil as Hub and Govt. ITI Anandapur as Spoke.To augment trainer capacity, the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) is implemented with an objective to provide comprehensive training in both hands-on skills and training methodology to instructor trainees to make them conversant with techniques for training skilled manpower for the industry through a network of 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), 5 NSTI Extension Centres and 120 Institutes for Training of Trainers (ITOTs) across the country. In the last three years, i.e., 2022-23 to 2024-25, 27,677 candidates have been trained under CITS. (d) Addition of trades and enhancement of seats in Government ITIs fall within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments and UT Administrations. Proposals received in this regard are examined as per the prescribed affiliation norms. Under the CTS, new and future-oriented trades are introduced from time to time by the DGT in consultation with industry and stakeholders, based on emerging skill requirements and technological advancements. (e) The Government of Jharkhand has identified 1 cluster (Dhanbad) comprising 1 Hub (Government ITI Dhanbad) and 4 Spoke (Government ITI Bokaro, Government ITI Deoghar, Government ITI Giridih, and Government ITI Koderma) for upgradation under pilot phase of PM-SETU. The upgradation is proposed to be done through industry-led SPV. The Government of Jharkhand is in process of selection of the Industry Partner for establishment of industry-led SPV. (f) The List of New Age trades imparting training in these trades in the State of Jharkhand are available at Annexure-2.Annexure-1 ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 2554 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026. List of New Age Trades imparting training in these trades Sr. No Trade Name 1. Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Technician 2. Aeronautical Structure and Equipment Fitter 3. Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant 4. Advance CNC Machining Technician 5. Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Programmer 6. Drone Pilot (Junior) 7. Drone Technician 8. Engineering Design Technician (Artisan Using Advanced Tool) 9. Fibre to Home Technician 10. Geo Informatics Assistant 11. Industrial Internet of Things (IloT) Technician 12. Industrial Robotics and Digital Manufacturing 13. Information Technology 14. Internet of Things Technician (Smart Agriculture) 15. Internet of Things Technician (Smart City) 16. Internet of Things Technician (Smart Healthcare) 17. Manufacturing Process Control & Automation 18. Mechanic Electric Vehicle 19. Multimedia, Animation & Special Effects 20. Semiconductor Technician 21. Small Hydro Power Plant Technician 22. Smartphone Technician Cum App Tester 23. Software Testing Assistant 24. Solar Technician (Electrical) 25. Technician Mechatronics 26. Virtual Analysis and Designer - FEM (Finite Element Method) (Basic Designer and Virtual Verifier) 27. Green Hydrogen Production Technician 28. Data Annotation Assistant 29. Cyber Security Assistant 30. Wind Plant Technician 31. 5G Network TechnicianAnnexure-2 ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (F) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 2554 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026. List of New Age trades imparting training in these trades in the State of Jharkhand Sr. No. Trade Name 1 Advance CNC Machining Technician 2 Drone Technician 3 Information Technology 4 Internet of Things Technician (Smart City) 5 Mechanic Electric Vehicle 6 Smartphone Technician Cum App Tester 7 Solar Technician (Electrical) 8 Technician Mechatronics *****