UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MSDE to Convene First Meeting of SARTHI to Drive Holistic Transformation of India’s ITI Ecosystem

Q1. Under the PM-SETU scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, what is meant by a 'Strategic Investment Plan (SIP)'?

  • A. A proposal submitted by an industry entity in response to a Request for Proposal, on the basis of which it is selected as the Anchor Industry Partner and a Special Purpose Vehicle is formed for the ITI cluster
  • B. A state government's rolling five-year capital outlay plan for upgrading laboratories and workshops in government ITIs
  • C. The Directorate General of Training's centrally allocated curriculum-revision blueprint for new-age trades introduced under the Craftsmen Training Scheme
  • D. A NITI Aayog–prepared district-level investment framework for skilling expenditure in aspirational districts

Q2. With reference to the PM-SETU scheme for ITI upgradation in comparison with the existing Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) framework, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike CTS, which is administered by the Directorate General of Training through State-run government ITIs, PM-SETU envisages a Special Purpose Vehicle in which the Anchor Industry Partner holds the majority equity stake. 2. PM-SETU adopts a Hub-and-Spoke architecture in which 200 Hub ITIs each support approximately four Spoke ITIs, covering 1,000 Government ITIs in all. 3. PM-SETU is a Central Sector Scheme financed entirely by the Union Government, with no State or industry funding share. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike CTS, which is administered by the Directorate General of Training through State-run government ITIs, PM-SETU envisages a Special Purpose Vehicle in which the Anchor Industry Partner holds the majority equity stake.
  2. PM-SETU adopts a Hub-and-Spoke architecture in which 200 Hub ITIs each support approximately four Spoke ITIs, covering 1,000 Government ITIs in all.
  3. PM-SETU is a Central Sector Scheme financed entirely by the Union Government, with no State or industry funding share.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following is the oldest formal vocational training programme of the Government of India, delivered through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)?

  • A. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
  • B. Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS)
  • C. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
  • D. Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS)

Q4. With reference to the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) in India, consider the following statements: 1. CTS is delivered through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), whereas CITS is delivered through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). 2. The day-to-day administration of Government ITIs running CTS courses was transferred to State Governments/Union Territory administrations in 1956. 3. Both CTS and CITS were launched in 1950 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. CTS is delivered through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), whereas CITS is delivered through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).
  2. The day-to-day administration of Government ITIs running CTS courses was transferred to State Governments/Union Territory administrations in 1956.
  3. Both CTS and CITS were launched in 1950 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the first-ever Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) approved under the PM-SETU scheme in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is the Anchor Industry Partner for the cluster. 2. New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) is the academic partner associated with the SIP. 3. The Hub ITI of the approved cluster is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 4. The SIP was approved by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is the Anchor Industry Partner for the cluster.
  2. New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) is the academic partner associated with the SIP.
  3. The Hub ITI of the approved cluster is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
  4. The SIP was approved by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the architecture and funding of the PM-SETU scheme under which the first Strategic Investment Plan was approved in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The scheme envisages upgradation of 1,000 Government ITIs through a Hub-and-Spoke model of about 200 Hubs supporting four Spokes each. 2. The total outlay of the scheme is ₹60,000 crore, shared between the Centre, States and Industry. 3. Half of the Central share is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. 4. In the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for each upgraded ITI, the Central Government holds majority equity of 51% while industry holds 49%. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The scheme envisages upgradation of 1,000 Government ITIs through a Hub-and-Spoke model of about 200 Hubs supporting four Spokes each.
  2. The total outlay of the scheme is ₹60,000 crore, shared between the Centre, States and Industry.
  3. Half of the Central share is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
  4. In the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for each upgraded ITI, the Central Government holds majority equity of 51% while industry holds 49%.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q7. With reference to India's vocational training ecosystem, which one of the following is the apex regulator for both long-term and short-term vocational education and training, and is responsible for regulation under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)?

  • A. National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT)
  • B. National Skill Development Agency (NSDA)
  • C. National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)
  • D. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

Q8. With reference to India's Industrial Training Institute (ITI) ecosystem and its regulatory architecture, consider the following statements: 1. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) was constituted by merging the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA). 2. Under the PM-SETU scheme, 1,000 Government ITIs are to be upgraded in a Hub-and-Spoke model comprising 200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs. 3. The number of ITIs in India grew from about 9,977 in 2014 to over 14,682 by 2025. 4. NCVET is a statutory body established under a dedicated Act of Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) was constituted by merging the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA).
  2. Under the PM-SETU scheme, 1,000 Government ITIs are to be upgraded in a Hub-and-Spoke model comprising 200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs.
  3. The number of ITIs in India grew from about 9,977 in 2014 to over 14,682 by 2025.
  4. NCVET is a statutory body established under a dedicated Act of Parliament.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the institutional architecture under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), consider the following statements regarding its constituent bodies: 1. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) is the overarching regulator that recognises Awarding Bodies, Assessment Agencies and Skill-related Information Providers. 2. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a not-for-profit Public-Private Partnership company that catalyses private-sector participation in skill development. 3. The Directorate General of Training (DGT) implements the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). 4. The National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) presently functions as an autonomous statutory regulator coordinating skilling activities across States. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. NCVET is the overarching regulator that recognises Awarding Bodies, Assessment Agencies and Skill-related Information Providers.
  2. NSDC is a not-for-profit Public-Private Partnership company that catalyses private-sector participation in skill development.
  3. DGT implements the Craftsmen Training Scheme through ITIs and NSTIs.
  4. NSDA presently functions as an autonomous statutory regulator coordinating skilling activities across States.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. With reference to the constituent bodies and schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), consider the following statements: 1. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is structured as a not-for-profit Public-Private Partnership company under MSDE. 2. The Directorate General of Training (DGT) is an independent Ministry separate from MSDE that exclusively administers higher technical education. 3. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) was created by subsuming the functions of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA). 4. National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) are used by DGT to train craft instructors under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS). Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. NSDC is structured as a not-for-profit Public-Private Partnership company under MSDE.
  2. DGT is an independent Ministry separate from MSDE that exclusively administers higher technical education.
  3. NCVET was created by subsuming the functions of NCVT and NSDA.
  4. NSTIs are used by DGT to train craft instructors under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS).
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4 only
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