The Union ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) is preparing to set up a national-level advisory body aimed at undertaking long-term reforms and a comprehensive transformation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), as part of a broader effort to align India’s vocational education system more closely with evolving industry requirements. Officials familiar with the proposal said the new body, to be called Saarthi — the Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation — is intended to address long-standing coordination gaps in the country’s skilling ecosystem and provide sustained strategic direction to ITI reforms.

ITIs form the backbone of India’s formal vocational training system. Under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), a flagship programme of the MSDE, more than 14,600 ITIs across the country impart industry-oriented skill training to young people. These include 3,316 government-run institutes and 11,299 privately managed ones. Collectively, they train millions of students every year in a wide range of trades, from traditional manufacturing skills such as fitting, welding and machining to newer areas linked to electronics, automation and services.

Despite their scale and importance, ITIs have often been criticised for outdated curricula, weak industry linkages and uneven quality across states and institutions. The proposed creation of Saarthi reflects the government’s acknowledgement that structural issues in governance and coordination have limited the system’s ability to respond quickly to changing labour market demands.

A central platform for strategic coordination

According to officials, Saarthi will function as an apex advisory council for the Craftsmen Training Scheme, bringing together the Centre, states, industry representatives and key regulatory bodies on a single platform. The body will be chaired by the minister of state (independent charge) for skill development and entrepreneurship, signalling its importance within the ministry’s reform agenda.

At present, responsibility for ITIs is fragmented across multiple institutions. The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the MSDE, sets national standards for curriculum, training and certification. State governments are responsible for the day-to-day administration and funding of government ITIs, while private ITIs are regulated through a mix of central and state-level mechanisms. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) acts as the overarching regulator for the skilling ecosystem, and industry bodies contribute to curriculum design and trade updates.

“While each of these entities plays a critical role, the absence of a single unified platform for strategic dialogue and coordination among them has limited the system’s responsiveness to evolving skill demands,” states the concept note for Saarthi, a copy of which has been accessed by Hindustan Times. The advisory body is envisioned as a mechanism to bridge this gap by enabling sustained dialogue and long-term planning across institutional boundaries.

An MSDE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saarthi would guide reforms related to curriculum standards, certification systems, ITI regulation and industry alignment. “The idea is to move beyond piecemeal changes and address structural issues through coordinated, long-term interventions,” the official said.

Mandate and areas of focus

As outlined in the concept note, Saarthi’s mandate will span a wide range of policy and strategic issues related to ITIs. One of its core functions will be to provide policy direction on curriculum standardisation and the introduction of new trades aligned with emerging technologies and industry needs. This includes advising on the periodic revision of training content to ensure that students are equipped with relevant, job-ready skills.

The body will also focus on trade testing and certification reforms. At present, concerns have been raised about the consistency and credibility of assessments across ITIs. Saarthi is expected to advise on modernising examination systems, introducing more robust and industry-aligned assessment practices, and strengthening accreditation norms for ITIs.

Another key area of emphasis will be the creation of clear progression pathways for ITI graduates. Saarthi will advise on mechanisms that allow students to move seamlessly from vocational training to higher levels of education under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). The NSQF standardises skill qualifications by level, enabling mobility between vocational and formal education streams and supporting lifelong learning.

Strengthening industry–institute linkages will be a central pillar of Saarthi’s work. This includes promoting public–private partnerships in training delivery, apprenticeships, curriculum development and infrastructure upgrades. The advisory body will also explore ways to incentivise deeper industry participation in ITIs, particularly in sectors facing acute skill shortages.

Composition and governance

The proposed composition of Saarthi reflects its ambition to serve as a comprehensive forum for vocational training reform. In addition to the chairperson from the MSDE, a state minister in charge of vocational training will serve as vice-chairperson on a rotational basis, ensuring that state perspectives are institutionally represented.

Membership will include representatives from several central ministries with a stake in skill development, such as labour and employment, education and micro, small and medium enterprises. State governments, public and private sector employers, and industry associations will also be represented. Key regulators and institutions, including NCVET, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the University Grants Commission (UGC) and NITI Aayog, will be part of the body.

In a notable inclusion, the presidents of major labour organisations — the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) — will be members of Saarthi as experts with special knowledge and experience in labour-related matters. Officials said this was intended to ensure that workers’ perspectives are factored into policy discussions around vocational training and employment outcomes.

All appointed members of Saarthi will serve for a term of three years, providing continuity while allowing for periodic renewal of expertise and perspectives.

Expectations from the ground

The announcement of Saarthi has generated cautious optimism among practitioners in the ITI system. Krishna Dutt Mishra, principal of Government ITI Ghaziabad, said he hoped the advisory body would lead to more structured engagement between ITIs and industry. “Industry visits and interactions are crucial for our students. If industry leaders and experts are more closely involved in policy formulation, it can help improve training quality and employability,” he said.

However, experts have also cautioned that the effectiveness of Saarthi will depend on how its recommendations are implemented on the ground. Harshil Sharma, a labour economist with a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University who has worked with several state governments on skilling programmes, said that meaningful reform would require deeper and outcome-linked private sector involvement.

“Private sector participation has to go beyond representation on committees or boards,” Sharma said. “It must be embedded in certification, training delivery and assessment, because this is where most trainees eventually find employment. Without aligning skilling systems to real industry demand and incentives, merely creating new bodies or boards will not address the structural gaps in vocational training.”

A test of reform intent

The proposed creation of Saarthi comes at a time when India is seeking to harness its demographic dividend by equipping young people with market-relevant skills. With rapid technological change reshaping industries, the pressure on vocational training institutions to adapt has intensified.

If Saarthi succeeds in fostering genuine coordination, evidence-based policymaking and sustained industry engagement, it could play a pivotal role in revitalising the ITI system. However, observers note that translating advisory recommendations into tangible improvements at thousands of institutions across diverse states will remain a formidable challenge. As the government moves forward with the proposal, the real test will lie in whether Saarthi can move beyond being another advisory forum and become a catalyst for lasting, systemic change in India’s vocational education landscape.