The Directorate General of Training(DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has made 150 hours of On-the-Job Training (OJT) or trade-based group project work compulsory for trainees enrolled in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS). The provision, effective from the 2022–23 academic session, is part of a restructuring of vocational qualifications in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

As per the revised framework, the annual duration of CTS training has been reduced from 1,600 hours to 1,200 hours with the mandatory OJT or project component integrated to ensure direct industry exposure. Trainees will become eligible for this practical component after completing at least three months of institutional training. The industry-based training will be supervised by mentors and trainees will maintain logbooks documenting their tasks and skill development. Assessment will include mentor evaluation, review of documentation and viva during the practical examination with grades reflected in the marksheet.

The reform aims to strengthen industry-institution collaboration and enhance employability by aligning training with current workplace requirements. State Skill Development Departments and affiliated training bodies have been directed to identify suitable industry partners to facilitate implementation. The initiative is also expected to be incorporated into institutional evaluation parameters under the Data Driven Grading Methodology (DDGM), further reinforcing industry integration within the ITI ecosystem.

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