Rajya Sabha: MP Satnam Sandhu seeks details on interest shown by Industry from Punjab for upgradation of ITIs under PM SETU Scheme
MP Satnam Sandhu Terms PM Setu Scheme as ‘Revolutionary and Transformative Initiative’
‘Industrial Clusters Identified in Punjab, steering committee Constituted to Avail Benefits under PM SETU Scheme’ says MoS Skill Development Jayant Chaudhary
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali (Punjab), April 1, 2026:Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu praised the Union Government for launching PM SETU - Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs scheme which is aimed at upgradation of ITIs through a cohesive effort of Union Government, state government and industry.
In a question asked in Rajya Sabha, MP Satnam Sandhu enquired about the identification of industry clusters in Punjab under the PM SETU Scheme.
The MP further asked from the government about the response of the industry which has submitted their strategic investment plan under the scheme.
MP Satnam Sandhi in his address also mentioned that the union government allocated a budget Rs 60,000 crores for PM SETU scheme which is aimed at modernizing the ITIs by upgrading and upskilling the youth workforce who would be trained at these institutions.
In his question asked in Rajya Sabha, MP Satnam Sandhu while terming the PM SETU scheme as “revolutionary and visionary initiative” by the Union Government sought details regarding the number of industrial clusters identified in Punjab and the extent of investment received under the scheme. He also sought details on how many anchor industry partners have submitted their strategic investment plans as required under the scheme.
While drawing attention to the ground situation, Sandhu noted that while Punjab’s industry is facing challenges, the state’s youth are increasingly stepping forward to acquire quality skills. He urged the government to provide clarity on cluster development and investment inflows to ensure better alignment between industry needs and skilling efforts.
Responding to the question, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, said, “Punjab has already identified industrial clusters under the scheme. The state has also constituted a state steering committee to oversee implementation in line with the guidelines of the National Steering Committee.
The MoS for Skill Development also informed that the state has also created a separate state budget head under the scheme.
The MoS for Skill Development, however said, “Punjab has not yet floated the Request for Proposal (RFP) for selecting anchor industry partners which is a key requirement under the scheme. The Centre government is coordinating with the state government and hope that the process will be expedited.”
On capacity building and enhancement of skill development infrastructure in the country, Chaudhary said, “Under component 2 of PM SETU, five National Centres of Excellence are being established for advanced training and instructor development out of which one Centres of Excellence has been identified at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) Ludhiana in Punjab.”
It is pertinent to mention that these COEs are primarily aimed at capacity building of ITI instructors and master trainers, standardizing training quality and aligning pedagogy with industry needs and emerging technologies. The Centres of Excellence will deliver advanced, technology-driven training, develop modern curriculum and act as nodal hubs for best practices in vocational education.
These NCOEs would be working in collaboration with industry partners to propose skill interventions suited for local needs in areas such as agriculture, food processing, dairy or any other local expertise that is required by the industry.
The state has identified a pilot cluster in Hoshiarpur with several ITIs in districts including Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Nawanshahr, and Amritsar which would dbe upgraded under the scheme.
Notably, PM SETU scheme was launched in July 2025 which was primarily aimed at modernizing India’s workforce by upgrading ITIs and NSTIs with modern infrastructure, industry-aligned courses and stronger industry linkages, while enhancing trainer capacity shifting towards an industry-led, demand-driven skilling mechanism that improves employability outcomes.