**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) held an Industry Leadership Conclave in Bhopal on February 25-26, 2026, focusing on PM-SETU. The conclave aimed to embed industry-led governance within Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and accelerate reforms to enhance India's training infrastructure. The scheme is in preparatory and phased rollout stage.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conclave Overview**
* MSDE convened the Industry Leadership Conclave on PM-SETU in Bhopal on February 25-26, 2026.
* The Conclave was chaired by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE.
* More than 20 industry players participated.
* **PM-SETU Scheme**
* PM-SETU is a structural reform empowering industry partners to lead in designing, managing, and delivering training across ITI clusters.
* It aims to align skilling outcomes with real-time industrial demand.
* The scheme is in the preparatory and phased rollout stage.
* **ITI Upgradation and International Collaboration**
* 33 States and Union Territories have identified ITI clusters for upgradation, and 31 have formed State Steering Committees.
* 14 have floated Expressions of Interest or Requests for Proposal to select Industry Partners.
* International collaborations for National Centres of Excellence are underway, including:
* Letter of Intent with France for Aeronautics at NSTI Kanpur.
* Joint Declaration of Intent with Germany for renewable energy at NSTI Hyderabad.
* MoU with Singapore for Advanced Manufacturing at NSTI Chennai.
* **Institutional Capacity Building**
* 100 ITI Principals from 27 States and Union Territories have undergone specialized leadership training.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for leading and implementing the PM-SETU scheme and fostering industry collaboration.
* **Action Required:** Continue to guide the preparatory and phased rollout of the scheme, support ITI upgradation, and facilitate international collaborations.
**Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)**
* **Impact:** Subject to reforms and upgradation to become industry-integrated and globally competitive.
* **Action Required:** Implement changes to governance, curricula, and training delivery based on PM-SETU framework, and engage with industry partners.
**Industry Partners**
* **Impact:** Have the opportunity to actively participate in designing, managing, and delivering training programs within ITI clusters, influencing the talent pipeline.
* **Action Required:** Engage in co-creating curricula, deploying modern equipment, and restructuring institutional clusters, as well as sharing best practices in training delivery.
**Trainees / Students**
* **Impact:** Should expect improved training programs, better alignment with industry needs, and enhanced employability.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the updated training programs and leverage the enhanced resources and industry connections.
**State Governments and Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Involvement in identifying ITI clusters for upgradation and forming State Steering Committees.
* **Action Required:** Continue to identify ITI clusters for upgradation, form and manage State Steering Committees, and collaborate with MSDE and industry partners.
Key Entities Referenced
PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs): A scheme focused on skilling and employability through upgrading Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The primary government body responsible for convening the Industry Leadership Conclave and overseeing the PM-SETU scheme.
Industrial Training Institute (ITI): The ecosystem that PM-SETU aims to transform through industry-led governance and reforms.
Bhopal: Location of the Industry Leadership Conclave
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
PM-SETU Gains Momentum as MSDE Hosts
Industry Leadership Conclave in Bhopal
Posted On: 27 FEB 2026 5:42PM by PIB Delhi
In a decisive step toward deepening industry participation in India’s skilling architecture, the
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) convened a high-level Industry
Leadership Conclave on PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation
through Upgraded ITIs) in Bhopal on 25–26 February 2026. The two-day strategic consultation
marks a critical milestone in embedding industry-led governance within the Industrial Training
Institute (ITI) ecosystem and accelerating reforms aimed at making India’s training infrastructure
globally competitive and demand-driven.
The Conclave was chaired virtually by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, and
witnessed the participation of the Director General, Directorate General of Training (DGT), the
Principal Secretary (Skill Development), Government of Madhya Pradesh, and senior officials
from the Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, underscored that PM-
SETU represents a structural reform that goes beyond incremental upgrades. She emphasized
that the scheme places industry at the centre of governance by empowering partners to take
leadership in designing, managing, and delivering training across adopted ITI clusters. The
reform, she noted, seeks to align skilling outcomes with real-time industrial demand, ensuring
that graduates are employment-ready and future-ready.
More than 20 leading industry players participated in the Conclave, including ArcelorMittal,
BHEL, CREDAI, ITC Limited, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Motherson Group, Tata Power
Skill Development Institute, and UltraTech Cement, among others.
Industry leaders described PM-SETU as a timely and transformative reform that provides
employers the flexibility to co-create curricula, deploy modern equipment, restructure institutional
clusters, and embed global best practices in training delivery. They viewed the initiative as a
significant opportunity to build a steady, high-quality talent pipeline while addressing persistent
skill shortages across core sectors such as manufacturing, construction, energy, infrastructure,
and advanced technologies.
The consultation served as a pivotal platform to translate the Prime Minister’s vision of a future-
ready, globally competitive, and industry-integrated skilling ecosystem into actionable
partnerships. Deliberations focused on governance frameworks, cluster restructuring, funding
models, industry incentives, and mechanisms for outcome-based accountability.
The scheme is currently in the preparatory and phased rollout stage. The National Steering
Committee has been constituted and guidelines approved. So far, 33 States and Union
Territories have identified ITI clusters for upgradation, 31 have formed State SteeringCommittees, and 14 have floated Expressions of Interest or Requests for Proposal to select
Industry Partners.
Parallel efforts are underway to internationalize India’s technical training ecosystem through
strategic collaborations for National Centres of Excellence. A Letter of Intent has been signed
with France for establishing a Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics at NSTI Kanpur. A Joint
Declaration of Intent has been concluded with Germany for collaboration in the renewable
energy sector at NSTI Hyderabad. Additionally, an MoU has been signed with Singapore for
setting up a National Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing at NSTI Chennai. These
partnerships aim to bring global standards, advanced technologies, and cross-border expertise
into India’s skill development landscape.
Institutional capacity building has also commenced in parallel. As part of leadership
strengthening initiatives, 100 ITI Principals from 27 States and Union Territories have already
undergone specialized leadership training to enhance institutional governance, industry
engagement, and operational readiness under the PM-SETU framework.
The Bhopal Conclave signals strong industry confidence in PM-SETU and reinforces MSDE’s
commitment to transforming ITIs into globally competitive, industry-integrated institutions that
power India’s growth and employability agenda.***
SH
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