Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a pioneer in the national effort to upgrade vocational education, with the National Steering Committee (NSC) approving the first-ever Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme for the Visakhapatnam ITI Cluster, according to an official statement.The proposal, submitted by ArcelorMittal/Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), was cleared during the 3rd NSC meeting held at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi, chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).The National Steering Committee approved a ₹200.21-crore Strategic Investment Plan for Visakhapatnam’s ITI Cluster under the PM-SETU scheme.The approval marks the first operational industry partnership under the ₹60,000-crore flagship initiative across the nation, establishing Andhra Pradesh as the first State to onboard an Anchor Industry Partner (AIP).The PM-SETU scheme aims to transform 1,000 Government ITIs across the country through an industry-led ‘Hub-and-Spoke’ model, designed to modernise infrastructure and align vocational training with the requirements of advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.The successful approval of the Visakhapatnam cluster is expected to serve as a national model for strengthening industry participation in vocational training, fostering outcome-oriented governance, and enhancing the financial sustainability of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) created under the scheme.The initiative is a critical component of broader government efforts to build a future-ready workforce for Viksit Bharat-2047, with 32 States and Union Territories already having constituted their respective steering committees to accelerate implementation. Published - May 31, 2026 06:38 pm IST