Harjot Bains Pushes for Indian Institute of Skills in Ludhiana and Five ITI Hubs Across Punjab
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 28, 2025:
Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Harjot Singh Bains has urged the Union Government to establish an Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Ludhiana along with five Industrial Training Institute (ITI) hubs across Punjab. The demand was made during the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers, chaired by Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary.
Addressing the conference, Bains highlighted Ludhiana’s suitability for the IIS, noting the availability of 20 acres of land in the industrial city for its establishment. He underlined Punjab’s remarkable progress in technical education, pointing out that ITI seats in the state have more than doubled, from 25,000 in 2022 to 52,000 currently, with admission rates soaring from 60 percent to a projected 98 percent this year.
Bains emphasized a comprehensive overhaul of technical education in Punjab, including the discontinuation of obsolete courses and introduction of 814 new trades aligned to industry needs. These trades were developed through consultations with industry partners and Industrial Management Committees to boost employability and job readiness among youth.
The minister also mentioned strategic partnerships with leading industrial houses such as Sonalika and Hero to bridge the skill-certification gap, ensuring ITI graduates gain recognized qualifications alongside practical industry skills.
Bains highlighted the launch of a pioneering B.Tech. program in Mechanical Engineering (Industry Integrated) at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, developed with Victura Technologies Private Limited. This unique program integrates students into the industry from the first semester, with the industry campus serving as a deemed university campus.
Inviting Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary to visit Government ITI Ludhiana, Bains described it as a model institute for technical education nationwide, equipped with advanced equipment and next-generation laboratories. He expressed gratitude for Chaudhary’s continuous support and cooperative efforts in advancing Punjab’s technical education initiatives over the past three years.