On February 13, 2026, a high-level review meeting took place at Kaushal Bhawan, Jaipur — between the Union Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the Government of Rajasthan. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary and attended by Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Rajasthan’s Minister for Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship.
What came out of that meeting was a set of approvals that could fundamentally change the career trajectory of thousands of young people in Jaipur and across Rajasthan — approvals for facilities that few Indian states have secured.
The most significant: the establishment of two Skill India International Centres (SIICs) — one in Jaipur, one in Bharatpur — creating structured, government-backed pathways for Rajasthan’s youth to secure jobs abroad.
What Exactly Is a Skill India International Centre?
A Skill India International Centre is not a regular training institute. It is a dedicated centre that trains young people specifically for overseas employment — bridging the gap between their existing skills and what international employers in countries like Japan, Germany, UAE, Canada, and the UK are actively hiring for.
These centres provide industry-specific training aligned with international certification standards, language preparation, cultural orientation, and job placement support — all under one roof. For a student in Jaipur who wants to work abroad but doesn’t know how to navigate the process, this centre is the answer.
Discussions are already underway for centres in Jaipur and Bharatpur — two strategically located cities that cover Rajasthan’s industrial belt and its border with UP. This decision is part of the broader Skill Development & Entrepreneurship department strategy that Col. Rathore has been systematically building since taking office.
The Bigger Picture: NSTI Jaipur Upgraded, New NSTI for Bharatpur
Alongside the SIIC announcement, the February 2026 review also covered proposals to upgrade the existing NSTI (Women), Jaipur and NSTI, Jodhpur — both of which provide vocational training to thousands of students annually. A fresh National Skill Training Institute in Bharatpur was also proposed, further expanding Rajasthan’s world-class skills infrastructure.
These aren’t just building upgrades. An NSTI upgrade means better labs, industry-grade equipment, updated curriculum aligned to 2026 employment sectors, and stronger placement networks. Students who pass through upgraded NSTI facilities emerge with credentials that multinational companies recognise and respect.
This network — new SIICs for international jobs + upgraded NSTIs for domestic placement + PM-SETU for ITI transformation — forms a complete skilling pyramid that Col. Rathore’s department is constructing methodically.
The Numbers That Show It’s Already Working
| 3L+
Youth Trained Under PMKVY |
1.04L
Apprentices via NAPS |
2.51L
Artisans — PM Vishwakarma |
1,537
ITIs Across Rajasthan |
These are not projected numbers. These are ground-level outcomes reported at the February 2026 Kaushal Bhawan review. Over 3 lakh youth trained under PMKVY 4.0. More than 1.04 lakh apprentices engaged across 1,211 active establishments. Over ₹24.98 crore disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer to apprentices alone. And 2.51 lakh artisans assessed under PM Vishwakarma.
Rajasthan has one of the largest ITI networks in India — 1,537 institutions, including 182 government and 1,355 private ITIs. Under Col. Rathore’s direction, these ITIs are being integrated into the PM-SETU hub-and-spoke model across districts including Jaipur, Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Banswara.
PM-SETU: Turning ITIs into Employment Machines
The PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs — or PM-SETU — is the scheme that will transform Rajasthan’s existing ITI network from dated infrastructure into responsive, industry-aligned training hubs.
Under Col. Rathore’s guidance, Rajasthan has identified key ITI clusters in 8 major districts for the hub-and-spoke model. Sectors targeted: automotive, electronics, petrochemicals, handicrafts, and export-oriented industries — all areas where Rajasthan has natural comparative advantages.
The goal is that a student from any district should have access to training that directly connects to a job — not a theoretical certification that gathers dust. This aligns perfectly with Col. Rathore’s industry philosophy: that skilling and employment must connect seamlessly, not remain separate government silos.
What This Means for a Student in Jaipur Right Now
- A student at an upgraded NSTI (Women) in Jaipur gets internationally recognised vocational certification
- A young person aiming for a job in Germany or Japan can attend the new SIIC for language training, skill certification, and placement support — from Jaipur itself
- An ITI student in Bharatpur gets access to a PM-SETU upgraded facility with modern equipment and corporate tie-ups
- An artisan in Jaipur’s craft sector gets assessed and certified under PM Vishwakarma, unlocking credit and market access
- A first-generation entrepreneur gets support via iStart Rajasthan — the state’s startup enablement programme under the same ministry
Each of these opportunities is part of a connected ecosystem — not isolated schemes — built by Col. Rathore’s Skill Development department.
The Olympic Mindset in Skill Governance
There’s a reason Col. Rathore runs his skill ministry the way he does. At Athens 2004, he didn’t win a silver medal by being average at multiple things. He won by being precisely trained for one discipline, with every support system aligned to that goal.
That is exactly how he is approaching Rajasthan’s skilling challenge: identify the jobs of tomorrow, build precise training pathways for those jobs, and deploy every government resource to make those pathways accessible to every young person — regardless of background. His full governance philosophy reflects this athlete-turned-statesman mindset throughout.
For the latest updates on skill training schemes, ITI upgrades, and new centre announcements, follow the Department of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, check News & Updates, and connect at rajyavardhanrathore.in.