India, May 7 -- In a major push for vocational education reform, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and the establishment of five National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) for Skilling. The centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budgets for 2024–25 and 2025–26, comes with a total outlay of ?60,000 crore — including ?30,000 crore from the Centre, ?20,000 crore from states, and ?10,000 crore from industry. Half of the Centre's share will be co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The scheme aims to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs using a hub-and-spoke model with revamped, industry-al...