The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is set to convene the first meeting of the Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation (SARTHI) on June 12 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, as part of efforts to modernise India’s vocational training ecosystem and strengthen industry-ready workforce development.
The meeting will be chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, and will bring together senior representatives from the Central and State Governments, industry bodies, regulatory institutions and the wider skilling ecosystem.
SARTHI has been established as an apex advisory mechanism under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) to provide a structured platform for policy convergence, strategic dialogue and coordinated action across vocational education and training stakeholders. The initiative aims to ensure Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) remain aligned with evolving industry requirements and future workforce demands.
CTS currently operates through a network of 13,888 ITIs, including 3,326 government and 10,562 private institutes, offering training across 169 NSQF-compliant trades. The inaugural SARTHI meeting will review the status of CTS and deliberate on key reforms, including implementation of the National ITI Grading Framework, institutionalisation of the Annual All India ITI Skill Competition, technology-enabled assessment systems, instructor development, women’s participation, governance improvements and stronger industry linkages.
In Guwahati, leaders and employers in Assam and the Northeast are expected to benefit from a stronger ITI ecosystem, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, logistics and services. Improved skill development outcomes could help address regional workforce shortages while supporting investment and economic growth across the region.
MSDE said SARTHI will serve as a long-term institutional mechanism to strengthen Centre-State coordination, expand industry participation and support a future-ready, inclusive and outcome-oriented vocational training system for India.