Parliament Question: Craftsmen Training Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 3793 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026 CRAFTSMEN TRAINING SCHEME 3793: DR. SUMER SINGH SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state?

(a) whether the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) has been strengthened during the last three years to improve enrolment, course completion and placement outcomes of trainees in Industrial Training Institutes

(ITIs);

(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;

(c) the steps taken to augment institutional and trainer capacity, including ITI upgradation and instructor certification; and

(d) whether Government proposes to further expand ITI capacity or introduce additional future-oriented trades and if so, the details thereof? 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 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.

(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 are available at Annexure-1.(c) To augment trainer capacity, the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) is implemented with an objective to provide comprehensive training both in hand-on skills and training methodology is imparted to the instructor trainees to make them conversant with techniques to train 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. from 2022-23 to 2024-25, 27,677 candidates have been trained under CITS.

Further, The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) Scheme has been launched with an aim 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.

(d) The introduction of new trades and the expansion of seating capacity in Government ITIs are the responsibility of the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Proposals received in this regard are reviewed in accordance with the prescribed affiliation norms.

Under CTS, new and future-oriented trades aligned with changing skill requirements and technological developments are introduced from time to time by the DGT in consultation with industry and other stakeholders.Annexure-1 ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (B) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 3793 ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026.

List of 31 New Age 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 Fiber to Home Technician 10 Geo Informatics Assistant 11 Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) 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 Wind Plant Technician 28 5G Network Technician 29 Cyber Security Assistant 30 Data Annotation Assistant 31 Green Hydrogen Production Technician *****