Tamil Nadu's ₹150 crore Vetri Skill Scheme to train 13 lakh youth in industry-ready skills
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced the launch of the 'Vetri Skill Training Scheme' to provide industry-aligned training to 13 lakh youth, including 12 lakh college students and one lakh unemployed youth. The announcement was made by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson while presenting the revised Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly — the first budget of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government.
Under the scheme, which has received an allocation of ₹150 crore, internship programmes will be offered in collaboration with government and private industries to 20,000 youth in the first phase. Graduates and vocational education holders will receive a monthly stipend during the internship. Priority will be given to youth from families without permanent employment.
The scheme is part of the government's broader effort to enhance employability and bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements. With the tagline 'Vetri' (meaning 'victory' in Tamil), the initiative aims to equip young people with skills that are directly relevant to the current job market.
In addition, Mr. Wilson announced the expansion of the Tamil Nadu School Programme for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Knowledge of Online Tools (TN SPARK) to an additional 2,600 government schools during 2026-27. The programme, currently operational in 5,000 schools, will adopt a revised three-tier framework: students in Classes VI to VIII will learn fundamentals of emerging technologies, Classes IX and X will receive intermediate-level training, and Classes XI and XII will be offered specialised elective courses. This expansion brings the total number of schools under the programme to 7,600.
To reduce dependence on petroleum products and address environmental pollution, the government will train mechanics currently servicing fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the maintenance of electric vehicles and batteries. Over the next five years, 22,500 persons, including 12,500 existing mechanics, are expected to benefit from this initiative, which has an allocation of ₹3 crore for the current financial year.
In a push for advanced technology education, the government will introduce an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning trade in Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore. The trade will be introduced in 50 ITIs over five years, with 10 institutes covered each year, and is expected to train 24,000 students. Additionally, five new ITIs will be established at an estimated cost of ₹90 crore, for which ₹7.5 crore has been allocated in this budget.
The state government also plans to expand coaching classes conducted through District Employment and Career Guidance Centres to include examinations by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). A sum of ₹3.38 crore has been allocated for this initiative, which aims to help youth secure central government jobs.
To position Tamil Nadu as a leader in artificial intelligence, the government will launch the AI Industry Development Program. An expert committee comprising academic and industry leaders will develop specialised AI curricula for higher education. In partnership with institutions such as IIT Madras, the programme aims to skill five lakh youth across engineering colleges, polytechnics, and ITIs by 2031.
The Budget has allocated ₹2,022 crore for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, and ₹17,150 crore for the Special Programme Implementation Department. These initiatives collectively underscore the government's focus on equipping the state's youth with skills for future industries, including artificial intelligence, electric mobility, and digital technologies.
