New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar has been selected as one of five key hubs for infrastructure upgradation and the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) for Skilling under the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme, announced in Budget 2024-25 and Budget 2025-26, carries a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore (Central Share: ₹30,000 crore, State Share: ₹20,000 crore, Industry Share: ₹10,000 crore), with 50% of the Central share co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The scheme will upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs across India in a hub-and-spoke model, introducing industry-aligned trades and enhancing the capacity of five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana.
Bhubaneswar’s NSTI will see significant infrastructure improvements for Training of Trainers (ToT) facilities, positioning the city as a leader in vocational education reform. The initiative aims to skill 20 lakh youth over five years, aligning training with industry needs to supply employment-ready workers, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Unlike previous schemes, which provided inadequate financial support for ITI upgradation, this program introduces a need-based investment model, allowing flexible fund allocation for infrastructure, capacity expansion, and new-age trades. A pioneering industry-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model will ensure sustained collaboration with industries in planning and managing ITI upgrades, marking a significant shift from past efforts.
The scheme will also train 50,000 trainers through pre-service and in-service programs, enhancing the quality of vocational education. By addressing challenges in infrastructure, course relevance, and employability, the initiative seeks to transform ITIs into aspirational, government-owned, industry-managed institutes. This aligns with India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing and innovation powerhouse, addressing skill shortages in high-growth sectors like electronics, automotive, and renewable energy.
Odisha’s role in this transformative scheme underscores its growing prominence in India’s skilling ecosystem. The state’s NSTI in Bhubaneswar will play a pivotal role in creating a skilled workforce, contributing to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Despite a 47% expansion of the ITI network since 2014, with 14,615 institutes and 14.40 lakh enrollments nationwide, vocational training has faced challenges due to outdated infrastructure and limited appeal. This scheme builds on past efforts, reimagining ITIs with industry-aligned curricula to meet current and future demands.
