ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has received the National Steering Committee approval for setting up Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster in Andhra Pradesh.The approval marks the first-ever Strategic Investment Plan to be cleared under Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) and makes Andhra Pradesh the first State to operationalize an industry partnership under the scheme. AM/NS India has chosen New Age Makers Institute of Technology as its academic partner.With an outlay of ₹60,000 crore, PM-SETU aims to transform 1,000 Government ITIs through an industry-led Hub-and-Spoke model. The scheme seeks to modernise infrastructure, strengthen industry engagement, improve employability outcomes and establish National Centres of Excellence in high-growth sectors.It will be executed through stronger government-industry partnerships for building a future-ready workforce equipped for advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.The approval of the Visakhapatnam Cluster represents a significant step towards transforming Industrial Training Institutes into industry-managed, outcome-oriented institutions capable of responding to evolving workforce requirements.The proposal is expected to serve as a model for other States seeking to strengthen industry participation in vocational education and training and accelerate the implementation of PM-SETU interventions across the country.With 32 States and Union Territories having constituted their State Steering Committees and 12 States/UTs having floated their Requests for Proposals for inviting industry participation in the selection of Anchor Industry Partners — several of which are approaching closure in the coming weeks — PM-SETU stands at the threshold of a full-fledged, industry-led implementation phase.A robust pipeline of State-industry consultations, with multiple rounds concluded and several more scheduled in the weeks ahead, reflects deepening convergence between industry interest and State preparedness.In the coming months, further Strategic Investment Plans are expected to receive National Steering Committee approval, paving the way for a transformed vocational education and training ecosystem.Published on May 30, 2026