Lok Sabha Question No. 1003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Craft Instructor Training Scheme
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.: 1003

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## CRAFT INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SCHEME

## 1003.  SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure compliance with the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) mandate requiring all ITI trainers to be Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) trained;
- (b) the number of trainers who have completed the said Scheme out of the total trainers;
- (c) the steps being taken to bridge the gap between the total trainers and those who are CITS trained to comply with the said Training mandate; and
- (d) the measures being undertaken by the Government to create a facilitative environment  for  ITI  trainers  to  undergo  CITS  training,  including  any  financial  or  logistical support provided?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a). Sir, The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) runs the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through a network of  about  14,600 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) spread across  the country.  Under CTS, training  in  168  trades/courses  aligned  with  National Skills  Qualification  Framework (NSQF) are being offered. This scheme, has been, over the years, responsible for providing a steady stream of skilled manpower for the industry.

DGT  also  runs  the  Craft  Instructor  Training  Scheme  (CITS)  which  is  an  instructor training programme. Under CITS, comprehensive training both in hands   on skills as well as in training methodology is imparted to the instructor trainees to   make them conversant with techniques of transferring hands-on skills, to train   skilled manpower for the industry.

The CITS is run in 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and 120 Institute  of Training of Trainers (IToTs). Presently, 55  National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned courses have been   developed under CITS. These CITS courses have been mapped with 82 Craftsmen   Training Scheme (CTS) trades.

The  CITS  qualification has  been mandated  for the recruitment of Vocational Instructors  in  ITIs  so  as  to  bring  qualitative  improvement  in  vocational  training  across  the country. CITS qualification is mandated for recruitment of  instructors with the following stipulations:

1. In  cases  where  CITS  qualified  candidates  are  not  available  due  to  nonreceipt  of application from any CITS qualified candidates or for any other reason, candidates with relevant Technical Qualification may be recruited.
2. If  any  candidate is having CITS qualification in addition to the Degree/Diploma in the relevant stream, preference will be given to such candidates over the Degree/Diploma candidates not having CITS qualification.
3. The guideline also stipulates that if the selected candidate who has not doneCITS or any other form of pedagogy training shall undergo Pedagogy training within one year from the date of appointment. Further, if a candidate (both Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) holder) has been selected without possessing CITS qualification for the trades which are having CITS course, such candidates will have to undergo CITS

Degree/Diploma and National Trade Certificate (NTC)/ National training within three years from the date of appointment.

Most of the State Governments, in compliance of these guidelines have incorporated these in the Recruitment Rules of Craft Instructor/Vocational Instructor for their states.

(b).  &  (c)  Craft  Instructor  Training  Scheme  (CITS)  is  a  one-year  regular  instructor  training program for imparting skills as well as training methodology to make the Instructor trainees conversant  with  the  techniques  of  transferring  handson  skills  to  the  students  of  Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). A total of 45,025 trainees have been certified under CITS in the last five years.

In  order  to  bridge  the  gap  between  demand  and  supply,  Craft  Instructor  Training Scheme-Recognition of Prior Learning (CITS-RPL) scheme was designed for certification of in-service instructors having minimum 03 years of experience. This was initially introduced in the year 2019 and has now been further extended up to December 2025.

The objective of CITS-RPL is to provide National Craft Instructor Certificate to the inservice Instructors having minimum 03 years' experience of working in ITIs. After passing the exam of CITS-RPL, the candidates are issued the National Craft Instructor Certificate (NCIC) which is at par with the NCIC issued to the regular trainees who have undergone the full time CITS course.

## A total of 11,236 instructors have been certified under CITS-RPL in the last five years.

(d) There  is  no  provision  of  financial  or  logistic  support  to  the in-service  trainers undergoing CITS-RPL, however a nominal fee is charged for admission in CITS-RPL.

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