New Delhi/Rajasthan: The Centre and the Rajasthan government on Saturday reviewed the progress of skill development initiatives in the state, highlighting that over 3 lakh youth have been trained under national programmes and new pathways for international employment are being planned. Officials stressed that the focus now is on quality training, industry-aligned skills, and global job opportunities.
The review meeting, held at Kaushal Bhawan, was led by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, alongside Rajasthan Minister for Industry, Commerce, Youth Affairs, Sports and Skill Development, Col Rajyavardhan Rathore.
Rajasthan, boasting one of the country’s largest Industrial Training Institute (ITI) networks with 1,537 institutes (182 government and 1,355 private), has trained or oriented 3.14 lakh candidates under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, with more than 2.50 lakh youth certified. Apprenticeship participation under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has exceeded 1.04 lakh across 1,211 establishments, with about Rs 24.98 crore transferred to apprentices through Direct Benefit Transfer till January 31, 2026.
Additionally, over 2.51 lakh artisans were assessed under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, and Jan Shikshan Sansthans in nine districts have enrolled nearly 12,000 learners with robust certification outcomes.
Modernising ITIs and aligning training with industry
A key focus of the review was the PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) programme. Rajasthan has identified ITI clusters in Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Jaipur, Balotra, Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Banswara under a hub-and-spoke model designed to match training courses with local industrial demand.
At the national level, PM-SETU carries an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore over five years, aiming to modernise 1,000 ITIs, five National Skill Training Institutes, and train 20 lakh youth in emerging trades such as electronics, EV servicing, digital technologies, and other modern sectors.
Emphasis on quality and global employment
Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary noted that Rajasthan’s scale and institutional capacity position it among India’s leading states in skilling transformation. He emphasised that the next phase must focus on quality training, stronger industry partnerships, and measurable employment outcomes.
Col Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the state would accelerate infrastructure development, land allocation, and monitoring systems under PMKVY 4.0 and PM-SETU. “With over three lakh youth trained and more than one lakh apprentices engaged, Rajasthan is steadily creating a workforce for sectors including automotive, electronics, petrochemicals, handicrafts, and export-oriented industries,” he added.
International skill pathways and national skill institutes
Officials also discussed plans to establish a National Skill Training Institute in Bharatpur and upgrade existing institutes in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Two Skill India International Centres are planned in Jaipur and Bharatpur to enable overseas employment opportunities, providing structured pathways for youth seeking global careers.
Both governments committed to fast-tracking approvals, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and increasing industry participation to ensure that training directly translates into job opportunities.
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to prepare a future-ready workforce capable of meeting domestic and international demands. The collaboration between the Centre and Rajasthan aims to expand employment opportunities, enhance skill quality, and provide youth with training aligned with evolving industry needs, both in India and abroad.
