Maharashtra approves private skill university in Mumbai; IES gets nod

The Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of a private skill university in Mumbai. It is a significant step in its efforts to strengthen skill-based higher education and prepare youth for employment opportunities. Along with this, the state government has unveiled a Rs 7,000 crore skill development roadmap featuring modernisation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), industry partnerships and international placement initiatives.

Maharashtra Minister for Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mangal Prabhat Lodha made this announcement while introducing the Maharashtra Private Skill Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Second Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Legislative Council. As part of the initiative, the 108-year-old Indian Education Society (IES) has been granted approval to establish the private skill university in Mumbai. The institution will offer industry-oriented programmes in emerging fields such as architecture, digital marketing, fintech, sports analytics, drone technology and public policy, among others.

The university is expected to bridge the gap between conventional higher education and industry requirements by equipping students with practical skills aligned with evolving technologies and the global job market. Speaking on the occasion, Lodha said that skill development has become equally important as earning a conventional degree, given the rapid changes in the global employment landscape.

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Maha to modernise ITIs

The state government also announced Rs 4,000 crore programme to modernise ITIs across Maharashtra. Supported by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative aims to upgrade infrastructure, introduce advanced machinery and train students in future-ready sectors such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), solar energy and drone technology.

In another major announcement, the minister said the Tata Group has proposed extending technical and financial support to two ITIs in every district of Maharashtra under a Rs 3,000 crore initiative. The proposal will be placed before the state Cabinet for approval. If cleared, the collaboration is expected to improve access to quality technical education, particularly for students from rural areas.

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Oversees employement

The government has also set a target of creating one lakh overseas employment opportunities for Maharashtra's youth through the Swami Vivekananda International Academy at Vidyavihar. The academy will provide specialised training to prepare candidates for international labour markets where demand for skilled professionals continues to grow.

To promote continuous learning, the government has also introduced short-duration skill upgradation courses of two to three hours for working professionals.

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To prevent the commercialisation of skill-based education, the state has proposed strict regulations for private skill universities. Every institution will be required to furnish a Rs 10 crore bank guarantee with the government and maintain a fixed deposit as part of the regulatory framework. In addition, each university's management committee will include two government-appointed experts to oversee governance and prevent arbitrary fee hikes and administrative irregularities.

The government has also clarified that statutory reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) will be implemented in all private skill universities established under the new framework.

Lodha said the initiatives are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on skill development and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' vision of transforming Maharashtra into a hub for skilled manpower. He added that renovation work is being undertaken across ITIs and the government is committed to upgrading every ITI in the state to meet future industry requirements.