This week’s NSN Newsbytes highlights the growing momentum around skill development, vocational education and industry-led workforce transformation across India. From the ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU initiative to modernise ITIs and the new RFQ for empanelment of Institutional Partners, several initiatives are strengthening India’s ITI ecosystem.
New skill centres and technology-focused programmes are expanding opportunities in areas such as AI, robotics, cybersecurity, semiconductors, green energy and software-defined vehicles. State initiatives including IndiaSkills, DDU-GKY 2.0 and long-term skill development visions are further expanding access to skills and employment.
Meanwhile, industry partnerships are supporting workforce development across sectors including electrical, hospitality, BFSI and emerging technologies, reinforcing the focus on future-ready skills, employability and stronger industry-education collaboration.
Here we go with this week’s edition of our weekly newsbytes –
Apprenticeships
- Nuclear Fuel Complex invites applications for 432 ITI Trade Apprentice posts for 2026-27. Last date to apply is 16 September, 2026. Click here to apply!
- POWERGRID has announced 270 apprentice positions across multiple regions for ITI, diploma and graduate candidates. Online applications are open from August 25 to September 10, 2026. Click here to apply!
- NFC has invited applications for 432 ITI Trade Apprentice posts for 2026-27. The last date to apply is 16 September 2026. Click here to apply!
DGT invites RFQ for empanelment of Institutional Partners under PM-SETU
The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under MSDE, has invited a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for empanelment of Institutional Partners under the PM-SETU Scheme. The partners will work with industry to support ITI clusters through strategic planning, infrastructure modernisation, industry-aligned training, faculty development, apprenticeships, placements and industry linkages.
Last date to apply: September 10th, 2026 | Time: 5.00 PM IST
Click here to apply the RFQ and view the eligibility requirements.
Highlights from this week’s Newsbytes
- Government urges industry to lead the ₹60,000-crore PM-SETU initiative, aiming to modernise ITIs and build a future-ready, industry-aligned skilled workforce.
- Tamil Nadu will establish skill centres across five ITIs at a cost of ₹765 crore to upskill construction workers and strengthen industry-ready capabilities.
- KSOU plans to expand skill-based courses in AI, cybersecurity and green energy, aligning programmes with emerging technologies and future workforce needs.
Teaching for Employability in the Age of AI
On the occasion of Teacher’s Day, Team NSN organised a webinar, “Teaching for Employability in the Age of AI,” exploring how educators can help students prepare for the changing world of work by connecting classroom learning with real-world application, employability and human capabilities. Click here to read more!
National skill development updates
- MSDE and Uttar Pradesh hosted the PM-SETU Industry Conclave in Lucknow to strengthen industry participation and transform ITIs into world-class centres of excellence.
- Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy emphasised skilling and employment for youth at the ASDC Annual Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the need to prepare India’s workforce for evolving automotive technologies and global industry demands.
State-led Skill Initiatives
- Bihar will replace ‘Fail’ with ‘Eligible for Skill Development’ on Class 10 and 12 marksheets, enabling students to pursue vocational training opportunities.
- Telangana partners with Japan’s Hiroshima Institute of Technology to enhance technical education, skill training, student exchanges and employment opportunities at Young India Skills University.
- Tamil Nadu will introduce AI and Machine Learning trades in 50 government ITIs over five years, benefiting around 24,000 students.
- Andhra University plans Centres of Excellence in quantum technology, AI and semiconductors, aiming to strengthen advanced research and innovation in Visakhapatnam.
- Nagaland launches IndiaSkills 2026-27, inviting youth to compete across 17 skills and advance from state-level contests to national and international platforms.
- UPSDM and STEMLearn.AI partner to provide Uttar Pradesh youth with AI, robotics, machine learning and data science skilling through multi-year technology-led programmes.
- Arunachal Pradesh unveiled Vision 2036 to skill one lakh youth, support 10,000 entrepreneurs and expand apprenticeships, overseas placements and industry partnerships.
- Nagaland University held a programme on NEP 2020 implementation, highlighting initiatives including ABC, SWAYAM, MOOCs, IKS, AI courses and international collaborations.
- Karnataka appoints Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi to head its new Skill Development Vision Group, aimed at shaping the state’s skilling ecosystem under its 2025-32 policy.
- Goa CM Shri Pramod Sawant said school leavers are increasingly choosing ITIs, vocational courses and job-oriented training in IT, hospitality and tourism sectors.
- Over 200 rural youth joined Nagaland’s first DDU-GKY 2.0 Combined Induction Programme, receiving placement-linked residential skilling for sustainable employment opportunities.
Industry Partnerships for Employability
- Aditya Birla Group’s wires and cables business will train 40,000 electricians under the Skill India programme, strengthening workforce capabilities in the electrical sector.
- ABB and ESSCI are expanding their partnership to strengthen industrial automation skilling and create more job opportunities for India’s growing technical workforce.
- FPSB India and BFSI SSC partner to strengthen financial planning education, professional standards and workforce readiness across India’s BFSI sector.
- Chalet Hotels partners with The Job Plus and THSC to skill 5,000 youth for hospitality careers by 2030, focusing on underserved communities in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.
- ASDC calls for a rethink of automotive skilling as EVs, AI and software-defined vehicles reshape job roles, requiring continuous upskilling and reskilling.
CSR initiatives in skills and livelihoods
- Dell Technologies launched uDaan to train 23,000 youth across 190 institutions in AI, cloud computing and electronics manufacturing, with employment and apprenticeship pathways.
Higher Education and Emerging Skills
- KLS Gogte Institute of Technology receives FKCCI’s Excellence in Skill Development Award, recognising its industry-aligned training and employability-focused education.
To know more, check out the latest updates on CSR and ESG initiatives that are creating a meaningful impact in skill development and education here: https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/csr-and-esg-in-skill-education/
*IMPORTANT:
The Weekly Newsbytes on skills and education from NSN are curated and adapted from various sources with the sole objective of keeping our readers updated about the evolving skills industry in India.
We compile and adapt these new snippets from various sources. If any source has objections or other concerns, please write to us at contact@nationalskillsnetwork.in, providing valid reasons, and we will remove the link to your content.
