<h1>National Rs 60,000 crore scheme to upgrade 1,000 ITIs and establish Centres of Excellence under hub-and-spoke model</h1> A federal ministry convened a regional conference to promote coordinated implementation of national skilling policies, announcing a recently approved Rs 60,000 crore scheme to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs and establish Centres of Excellence under a hub-and-spoke model. The programme and related initiatives (apprenticeship reforms, revised portals, PMKVY 4.0, credit frameworks under the national education policy, Skill Impact Bonds and restructured loan schemes) create regulatory and funding obligations for central and state authorities, require industry partnerships, and raise compliance, governance and procurement considerations tied to infrastructure upgrades, financing mechanisms and integration of vocational credentials with mainstream degrees.