Latest news with #ITIs
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
New skills policy will be transformative for India's youth: Jayant Chaudhary
The ministry of skills development and entrepreneurship is adopting a multi-pronged approach including development of global skills taxonomy , creating a national registry of skills and developing a new overarching policy to guide India's skilling mission over the next one decade, Jayant Chaudhary , minister of state for skills development and entrepreneurship (independent charge) said. 'Just as the National Education Policy (NEP) has been a game changer for the education sector, the upcoming National Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Policy will be equally transformative for India's workforce,' he said on Tuesday while addressing the media on 10 years of Skill India Mission . 'It will redefine the way we skill, upskill, and reskill our people while preparing them to thrive and lead in an increasingly dynamic global economy,' he said. The ministry has put out the draft policy in public domain for views from the stakeholder. According to the minister, over the past decade, schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have trained over 16.4 million youth, while more than 14,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been supported through reforms in quality, governance, and affiliation norms. Elaborating on the recently approved Rs 60,000 crore ITI revamp scheme, Chaudhary said Rs 10,000 crore will come from the private sector through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions. 'We want to move beyond funding. We want the industry to shape the curriculum, certification, and training standards. This is how we create employable youth and make ITIs future-ready,' he said. Chaudhary said his ministry has de-affiliated 4.5 lakh vacant seats which were vacant over the last six years and similar action is ongoing on over 99,000 more seats that have remained unutilised. 'As a result, In 2024, our ITI admission rate in 2024 increased by 11%, showing that trust is returning to the system,' he said, adding that the government is committed to quality of skills training and not just numbers. Chaudhary said his ministry is collaborating with states to identify hubs and spoke ITIs to be developed under the Rs 60,000 crore scheme. There will be 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs out of the over 3000 government ITIs which will be upgraded under the scheme.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Gujarat expands vocational training network; 558 ITIs now operational
In a push toward youth empowerment and employability, more than 6.5 lakh young individuals across Gujarat have been trained under the Mukhyamantri Skill Development Initiative (MSDI) in 2024-25, according to the state's Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department. Gujarat currently operates 558 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), comprising 288 government-run, 101 grant-in-aid, and 169 self-financed institutions, as per official data shared on Monday. Among these are 30 ITIs dedicated to women and 19 for persons with disabilities, collectively training over 2.16 lakh trainees in vocational skills. The effort, part of a broader mission to align youth capabilities with global workforce demands, includes partnerships with various state departments and targeted schemes. The Gujarat government is working on prioritising skill-based development to ensure its youth remain competitive in a fast-evolving global job market shaped by automation, digitisation, and AI. Notably, under the Mukhyamantri Bhavishyalkshi Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (MBKVY), over 19,000 youth have received short-term training in emerging fields such as drone technology, healthcare, automation, manufacturing, electrical, and IT. Additionally, the Kaushalya -- The Skill University is offering 100+ industry-aligned courses aimed at equipping students with future-ready skills. To reintegrate school dropouts from Class 10 and 12 into the workforce, the state has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), offering skill-based training for self-reliance. Under the Mukhyamantri Apprenticeship Yojana (MAY), more than 91,000 trainees have so far been engaged in work-based learning modules. To address Industry 4.0 requirements, the state is developing 'Centres of Excellence' across 6-8 key sectors under its Mega ITI Scheme. Simultaneously, the Gujarat Apex Training Institute (GATI) is building eight Institutes for Training of Trainers (iToTs) to ensure advanced instructor training. To reach remote and underserved youth, Gujarat is implementing the Saksham–KVK 2.0 and LIVE (Local Institutes for Vocational Education) initiatives. Through LIVE, trainees are provided with stipends amounting to 50 per cent of the minimum wage directly via DBT. Furthermore, the Project Sankalp initiative promotes the concept of 'by industry, at industry, for industry,' ensuring that both employers and aspiring youth benefit from demand-driven training models. The efforts coincide with the global observance of World Youth Skills Day on July 15, with this year's theme: 'AI and Digital Skills for Youth Empowerment'. The day, recognised by the UN, highlights the urgent need to equip youth with adaptive skills to meet the changing demands of the global labour market.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Recover excess payment for imported ITI panels: Govt
Mumbai: The state govt issued an order on Monday to recover Rs 2.13 crore paid for Made in China interactive panels, a year after TOI reported on how norms favoring indigenous products were violated to procure devices for smart classrooms in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). An inquiry has also been initiated against 13 officers in the procurement section of the Department of Vocational Education and Training (DVET). The vendor, who acknowledged to the inquiry committee that it supplied Made in China panels, is now replacing them at no extra cost. The govt's order says Rs 2.13 crore was paid over and above the right price. That excess amount will have to be recovered from the vendor in 15 days. In two of the four purchase orders, price per panel ballooned by 151% with a warranty period of 5 years. In the remaining two, the markup soared to a staggering 227%, with a warranty period of merely one year. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai TOI had reported on Dec 18, 2023 about the procurement of interactive panels at an inflated cost as part of a plan to install smart classrooms in ITIs. The majority of the Chinese-made panels were procured through funds received under Strive, a skills strengthening project of the World Bank and Govt of India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The tender was floated on the govt e-marketplace portal after disabling the "Make in India" purchase preference, contrary to what procurement agencies are encouraged to choose. The manufacturer was subsequently blacklisted on the portal and no state govt could purchase any of these panels. The govt inquiry, while acknowledging the allegations, found that all the bidders submitted their bids from the same IP address, thus inferring that there was no real competition: "it is clear that all the tenderers who are suppliers of BenQ submitted their tenders from the same IP address in both the tenders." Other observations include that "the period of warranty published in the tender was reduced in the supply and re-warranty orders and financial benefits were given to the suppliers". Moreover, "the tenderers were given illegal exemption in Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and they were given financial benefit". "The country of origin was deliberately ignored. Therefore, it was possible for the supplier to provide the Chinese-made interactive panels." Additionally, the report said, "BenQ manufacturer was biased towards other manufacturers by conducting a tender process which was favourable and materials were procured at exorbitant prices reducing competition." Also, "an assembled OPS was purchased from another manufacturer, Digital Audio Video Solutions, Nagpur, pretending to be an OPS manufactured by BenQ. OPS or Open Pluggable Specification is a slot in interactive panels that allows for quick access to various applications and features. " The connivance between DVET and the manufacturers was clear as the inquiry report said, "The specifications prepared by the technical specifications committee were exchanged at the directorate level in both tenders published and thereby assisted BenQ suppliers in qualifying." The report concluded: "As per the detailed investigation as above, it is pointed out that there was a serious irregularity in the procurement process carried out through both the tender processes. "
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
T-Gate initiative to enhance ITI graduate employability launched by Telangana government; targets 60% placement rate
HYDERABAD: The Telangana govt has launched a new initiative, Gateway for Adapting and Training Employment (T-Gate), to enhance the employability of ITI graduates through collaboration with industry partners. Currently, only 30% of ITI graduates in the state are employed. The state govt aims to increase this figure to 60%. The state hosts approximately 65 govt and 235 private ITIs. Officials estimate that as many as 1.5 lakh jobs across various industries will be filled by ITI students in the state. "An expert agency is being engaged to visit industries, understand their skilled manpower requirements, and based on those insights, they will collaborate with experts to redesign courses," stated E Gangadhar, additional commissioner of the labour department. The plan includes appointing Gate committees in all ITIs, with industry experts serving as chairpersons and principals acting as conveners. These committees will work to bridge the gap between skill development and employment through targeted interventions focusing on job readiness, industry-aligned training, and strategic placements. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Officials noted that even among the 30% of ITI graduates, nearly 60% are securing jobs in the electronics sector. An additional 20% find employment in welding, 30% in plumbing, 40% in mechanical, 45% in electrical, 50% in IT, and 55% in the automobile sector. However, a disconnect remains between existing training programmes and the evolving needs of the industry. There is limited awareness of ITI courses among students, as well as a lack of sufficient industry partnerships for practical training. "There is a lack of systematic data collection and analysis for demand forecasting. Gaps in infrastructure and equipment have also been observed," officials said.
Hans India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Skill Portal must be ready by Sept 1: Lokesh
Guntur: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh announced that the coalition government is developing a Skill Portal to connect youth with industries, aiming to create 20 lakh jobs in the state. During a review meeting with the AP State Skill Development Corporation at his Undavalli residence, he directed officials to launch the portal by September 1. The portal, aligned with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's suggestions, will feature automatic resume generation, skill assessments, and job vacancy notifications to help youth enhance their skills and secure employment. Lokesh emphasized a 90-day public awareness campaign to promote the portal and instructed officials to coordinate with departments for comprehensive data collection. He also mandated quarterly job melas in every constituency and action plans to improve district employment offices. The state will be divided into clusters for targeted skill development Lokesh revealed that the central government has allocated Rs. 600 crore for Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under a hub-and-spoke model through a centrally sponsored scheme. Discussions also covered the OMCAP division, with suggestions to collaborate with foreign embassies to facilitate overseas employment opportunities. Key attendees included Secretary Education Kona Sasidhar, AP Skill Development Corporation MD & CEO G Ganesh Kumar, Director of Collegiate Education Narayana Bharat Gupta, Advisor for International Skilling & Mobility Seetha Sharma, and APSSDC Executive Director K Raghu.
