Bhubaneswar: To enhance the skills of youths, a National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) will be set up in five cities, including Bhubaneswar. The other cities are Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Ludhiana. The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided so while approving the ‘National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation and the setting up of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling as a centrally-sponsored scheme.CM Mohan Charan Majhi expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for approving the national scheme for ITI upgradation with a total outlay of Rs 60,000 crore and for establishing an NSTI in Bhubaneswar. “This visionary step will empower Odisha’s youth, enhance employability, and position the state as a hub for advanced skills. A proud moment for Odisha as we contribute to building a future-ready, skilled Bharat,” he added.The national scheme will be implemented as a centrally-sponsored scheme, as per the announcement made under Budget 2024-25 and Budget 2025-26, with an outlay of Rs 60,000 crore (Central share: Rs 30,000 crore, state share: Rs 20,000 crore, and industry share: Rs 10,000 crore). Co-financing to the extent of 50 per cent of the central share will be provided by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank equally, according to the official statement.Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the approval will catalyse the skill development ecosystem, address long-standing challenges, bridge the industry-workforce gap in traditional and new-age trades, position our ITIs as global centres of excellence, and help skill and upskill over 20 lakh youth in the next five years. “Skill development is no longer an option but a national imperative. This visionary decision will create a robust pipeline of future-ready workforce and strengthen India’s position as the skill capital of the world,” he added.Under the scheme, infrastructure upgradation for improved training of trainers’ facilities will be undertaken in five NSTIs. These national institutes will include the setting up of five national centres of excellence for skilling within these institutes.The scheme will focus on upgradation of 1,000 govt ITIs in a hub and spoke of arrangement with industry-aligned revamped trades (courses) and capacity augmentation of five NSTIs. The scheme will aim to ensure alignment between local workforce supply and industry demand, thereby facilitating industries, including MSMEs, in accessing employment-ready workers.