The Centre has called on industry to take the lead in modernising India’s Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) through the ₹60,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Skill Enhancement and Training Upgradation (PM-SETU) initiative, positioning businesses at the heart of the country’s next phase of workforce development for the energy transition.
Speaking on the concluding day of Bharat Electricity 2026, co-located with POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week at Yashobhoomi (IICC), Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), unveiled an industry-led governance model aimed at aligning technical education with the evolving needs of energy and manufacturing sectors.
Under the new framework, industry partners will hold a controlling 51% stake in Section 8 companies managing ITI clusters, while the Centre and state governments will provide most of the funding. The industry’s 17% contribution will be eligible under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions, making participation financially viable for companies.
“This model puts curriculum design, technology adoption and skill development directly in industry’s hands, ensuring our workforce keeps pace with the demands of the energy and manufacturing sectors,” Mukherjee said.
She cited ArcelorMittal’s leadership in the Vizag ITI cluster as an example of how industry participation can drive institutional transformation.
Mukherjee urged companies to move beyond hiring skilled workers and actively shape how they are trained.
“Move from recruiters to co-creators,” she said, inviting businesses to help design curricula, invest in trainer development and strengthen training infrastructure.
The ministry also announced plans to create a national registry of Centres of Excellence in skilling and encouraged sector skill councils and industry bodies to become awarding agencies under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), enabling faster rollout of industry-relevant courses.
The government is also expanding apprenticeship programmes through co-funding mechanisms, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Tell us your future skill needs, shape our ITIs and help build a workforce ready for India’s energy transition,” Mukherjee said.
Organised by the Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS), Bharat Electricity 2026 concluded after bringing together more than 15,000 industry professionals, 250 exhibitors, and 150 global thought leaders from over 40 countries, with discussions spanning grid modernisation, renewable integration, power distribution innovation and workforce development.
A key highlight was the panel discussion titled “Future-Ready Bharat: Skills, Startups & Innovation for Energy Sovereignty,” which brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, multilateral institutions and the startup ecosystem.
Tanushree Bhowmik, WePOWER Coordinator at the World Bank, stressed that India’s clean energy ambitions require investment in both technology and human capital. “An agile and diverse skilling and education system is vital to prepare for the future,” she said.
Abhilasha Gaur, CEO of SSC NASSCOM, argued that the power sector must move beyond traditional job-based training. “It’s time to move from a job role-based approach to a competency model, combining digital, problem-solving and adaptability, to make the power sector aspirational and attract the next generation of talent,” she said.
Dr Abhinav Jindal, Senior Faculty at Power Management Institute, NTPC Business School, highlighted NTPC’s hub-and-spoke training model, which uses regional learning centres and technology-enabled training to build a future-ready talent pipeline across the power sector.
The final day of the summit also featured discussions on grid reliability, transmission expansion, DISCOM reforms, renewable energy integration and the commercial realities of scaling green hydrogen.
State-level sessions examined West Bengal’s energy and infrastructure growth, while closing panels explored market mechanisms, price-risk management and innovation in power distribution.
The event concluded with a clear message: India’s clean energy ambitions will depend not only on new technologies and infrastructure but also on creating an industry-driven skilling ecosystem capable of supplying the workforce needed for the country’s next phase of growth.
