The Central Government has cleared aRs 60,000 crore scheme for upgrading Industrial Training Institutes across the country, but Jammu and Kashmir will not receive any funds under the scheme unless it submits a qualifying proposal backed by industry partners.
Official document revealed that under the new initiative, which is to be implemented over five years, 1,000 government-run ITIs will be modernised through a cluster-based approach. However, there is no pre-approved allocation for any State or Union Territory as fund disbursal will be contingent upon approval of Strategic Investment Plans submitted by the respective State or UT governments, in consultation with the private sector.
“ITI(s) for upgradation will be identified by the respective State/UT Government in consultation with industry partners, and the final selection will be based on the proposals submitted,” the Ministry said as per the document.
The scheme is structured around a Hub-and-Spoke model, under which 200 institutions will serve as Hub ITIs and another 800 will function as Spoke ITIs which will be equipped with modern classrooms, upgraded labs, blended learning infrastructure, and courses aligned with sector-specific skill needs.
The financial model involves Rs 30,000 crore from the Central Government, Rs 20,000 crore from State/UT governments, and Rs 10,000 crore from industry partners. Crucially, no State or UT will receive funds automatically; instead, proposals will be evaluated based on the quality of planning, infrastructure readiness, and the strength of partnerships with industry.
As of now, the J&K government has not publicly confirmed whether it has submitted a Strategic Investment Plan or identified ITIs for upgradation.
The Ministry will release funds only after reviewing each SIP in detail, including infrastructure audits, equipment requirement lists, faculty development plans, and implementation timelines, reads the document.
It further said that alongside ITI upgradation, the scheme includes support for five National Skill Training Institutes , located in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana which will be developed as national-level Centres of Excellence for trainer upskilling. While J&K does not host any of these NSTIs, instructors and master trainers from the UT will be eligible to participate in their programmes.
The Ministry said that the resources, modules, and training opportunities at these Centres of Excellence will be made accessible to all States and Union Territories, including J&K, depending on institutional tie-ups and proposal approvals.
The scheme, if effectively leveraged, could improve the technical training ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, where many ITIs continue to operate with outdated infrastructure and weak industry engagement. According to previous reports, several government-run ITIs in the UT struggle with limited equipment, vacant instructor posts, and low placement rates.
