Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday inaugurated advanced electrical laboratories at 30 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state, at a programme held at the Government ITI campus in Guindy, Chennai.

Source: The Indian Witness

The laboratories have been established with support from Schneider Electric India Private Limited at a total cost of Rs 5.10 crore. The facilities are expected to benefit around 9,250 trainees every year across 23 districts, giving electrician and wireman trainees access to modern equipment for practical learning.

30Government ITIs with new electrical labs
Rs 5.10 croreCost of the first phase
40More ITIs covered by the new MoU
9,250Trainees to benefit every year

At the same event, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with Schneider Electric India to set up modern electrical laboratories at another 40 government ITIs. The proposed expansion is estimated to cost Rs 6.80 crore and will be implemented in collaboration with the Directorate of Employment and Training under the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department.

Tamil Nadu currently has 132 government ITIs and 277 private ITIs, with approximately 67,000 students enrolled. During the visit, the Chief Minister distributed training equipment to students in the electrician and wireman trades and inspected student projects and facilities covering turning, welding, hydraulics and pneumatics, robotics, advanced CNC machining and laser cutting.

The programme also combined facilities with staffing: appointment orders were handed to 673 newly selected Junior Training Officers, chosen through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for the Employment and Training Department.

Student achievers were felicitated at the event. Cheques of Rs 25,000 each went to 15 students who won awards at the 59th State-Level Skill Competition 2026, and certificates of appreciation were presented to 60 students who secured national first ranks in the All India Trade Tests — up from 40 the previous year, a rise the state government said helped Tamil Nadu move to second place nationally.

The Chief Minister also met students with hearing and speech disabilities enrolled in the fitter trade at the Guindy ITI, and interacted with students selected for employment opportunities with Japan's Ehime Nissan company, who are combining technical training with Japanese-language lessons.