A cohort of India’s top conglomerates—including Reliance, Adani, Mahindra, JK Cement, Toyota India, Schneider Electric, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel—are taking the lead in revitalizing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the government’s ₹60,000‑crore ITI Upgradation Scheme. These firms have submitted proposals outlining preferred states and sectors for deploying a “hub-and-spoke” model aimed at upgrading 1,000 ITIs over the next five years, with the ambitious goal of skilling two million youth across targeted trades.

In this initiative, hub ITIs will act as central training centers equipped with advanced infrastructure, while satellite “spoke” institutes will leverage shared resources, ensuring consistent, high-quality instruction across regions. Companies are strategically aligning their industry priorities with national workforce needs: JK Cement proposed projects in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh focusing on electrical, electronics, renewable energy, and hospitality. Mahindra Group aims to upskill trainees in automotive and hospitality sectors in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa. Reliance has earmarked Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh for advanced manufacturing, petrochemical engineering, retail, and renewables training, while Adani plans ITI upgrades across Gujarat, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the Northeast covering solar power, drones, and port operations.

The central government, which has pledged ₹30,000 crore, will partner with state governments (contributing ₹20,000 crore) and industry (₹10,000 crore), with additional co-financing from the Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Arun Kumar Pillai, CEO of NAMTECH (ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel’s skilling arm), expressed enthusiasm for training half a million young workers by 2028, noting the potential to build a globally competitive workforce.

Further interest is being seen from companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, and Aditya Birla Group, along with public-sector heavyweights like BHEL, Mazagon Dock, and HAL, underscoring a nationwide push for industry-led vocational training tied directly to sectoral employment needs. This corporate collaboration comes as India positions itself to shift from skill deficits to agility, particularly in meeting the rapidly evolving demands of advanced manufacturing.

This initiative marks a significant transformation for ITIs, transitioning from traditional training centres into specialized skill hubs tailored to industry-specific requirements. Backed by deep-pocketed private-sector partnerships, enhanced infrastructure, and structured resource-sharing ecosystems, the scheme aims to close skill gaps, fortify employment pipelines, and elevate the country’s manufacturing competitiveness.

By integrating private-sector priorities with public training infrastructure, India is crafting a more resilient and future-ready workforce—at a time when sectors ranging from renewable energy and automotive to drones, ports, and hospitality are rapidly expanding. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for vocational education, redefining how education, industry, and government can work together to prepare a generation for the jobs of tomorrow.