Punjab Moves From 27th To 3rd In Technical Education, Targets No. 1: Harjot Singh Bains Bhagwant Mann Govt Transforming ITIs, Polytechnics Into Employment Engines: Harjot Singh Bains Industry Partnership Key to Building Globally Competitive Institutions & Skilled Workforce: Harjot Singh Bains Govt Polytechnics Transformed into Innovation Hubs with Industry-Grade Labs at Khunimajra, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Badbar & Talwara: Harjot Singh Bains Conclave Focuses on Curriculum Alignment, Industry Exposure, Modern Laboratories, Placements & Continuous Employer Engagement After making Punjab No. 1 in school education, the Bhagwant Mann Government has now turned its focus to technical education, with a major push to transform Government Polytechnics and ITIs into industry-aligned, innovation-driven and employment-oriented institutions. The Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training (PSBTEIT) on Thursday organised a Regional Industry-Academia Conclave, bringing together leading employers and industrialists to align technical education with real-world industry requirements. Addressing the gathering, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the conclave was part of a larger overhaul underway in Punjab’s Government Polytechnics and ITIs, aimed at ending the disconnect between academic qualifications and actual employable skills. “For decades, our higher and technical education system has been a factory of unemployment, producing degree-holders who can recite theory but cannot hold a tool. The tragic irony of India is that those who have the skills do not have certificates and those who have certificates do not have skills. In Punjab, we are breaking that cycle. We are not just building labs, we are building a bridge between the classroom and the factory floor,” he said. Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “We have moved from 27th to 3rd in the country, and our goal is to make Punjab number 1 in Technical Education and no student should leave our institutions empty-handed.” The Education Minister said, “ITIs and polytechnics are being transformed into engines of employment, where students will learn not merely from outdated books but on the very machines and technologies they will operate in their professional lives. Industry participation in curriculum design would ensure that what students learn remains relevant to rapidly changing workplace requirements.” Inviting industry leaders to witness and become part of this transformation, he said the partnership between industry and educational institutions would be critical to building a skilled workforce capable of powering Punjab’s industrial growth. “When you invest in Punjab’s technical education, you are not just building your business, you are building the future of India. Make in India will truly succeed when we make it in Punjab, with skilled hands and brilliant minds leading the way,” he said. Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the initiative forms part of Punjab Sikhya Kranti, the State Government’s comprehensive reform agenda to create world-class learning ecosystems across schools, polytechnics and ITIs. “Punjab has been recognised by NITI Aayog as the top-performing state in classroom learning outcomes for 2026-27 and has also ranked No. 1 in the country in the Government of India’s PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, surpassing Kerala,” he added. Building on this transformation in school education, the Education Minister said, “The Bhagwant Mann Government is now extending the same reform-oriented approach to technical education to create globally competitive institutions and a future-ready workforce. A full-semester internship has been made compulsory for diploma students, while 40-plus hours of annual faculty training has been mandated.” He pointed out, “Polytechnics are being upgraded through Centres of Excellence, modern machinery and Innovation Labs. Principals and senior officials are being trained at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Amritsar, while faculty development programmes are being undertaken at IIT Ropar, IISER and NIFT. Industry immersion at organisations such as Tata Steel is also being promoted to ensure that Government institutions are led by confident and future-ready leaders.” Minister Harjot Singh Bains said state-of-the-art Innovation Labs at five Government Polytechnics at Khunimajra, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Badbar and Talwara were inaugurated on Thursday. These industry-grade spaces will provide students with opportunities for hands-on learning, prototyping and real-world problem-solving. “These Innovation Labs will transform our polytechnics into dynamic innovation hubs that equip students to build, innovate and lead Punjab’s industrial future,” he said Harjot Singh Bains. Emphasising the importance of sustained industry engagement, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Our goal is clear. Every Government Polytechnic and ITI must be meaningfully connected with industry. Through regular dialogue, expert engagement, industry visits, live projects and workplace exposure, we will ensure our students are ready for employment, entrepreneurship and the demands of the modern economy.” The Minister added that sustained engagement with industry would be essential for building technical institutions capable of competing at the global level and preparing students for the demands of the modern economy. Additional Chief Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Vikas Pratap said Punjab’s technical education system was rapidly moving beyond conventional models and adopting technologies and practices relevant to the future. “Punjab’s technical education is no longer playing catch-up, it is leapfrogging into the future. Today we have inaugurated five Innovation Labs with 3D printers and modern machinery to train our students on tomorrow’s technologies,” said Vikas Pratap. Vikas Pratap said the Industry-Academia Conclave marked the beginning of a continuous partnership between the State’s technical education institutions and industry, rather than being a one-time consultation. “This conclave is not a one-time dialogue but the start of a continuous partnership. Every suggestion will be acted upon,” he said. “We will keep innovating, upgrading and consulting you, because true transformation happens when the classroom meets the factory floor,” added Vikas Pratap. Chairman, Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to making technical education more relevant, practical and closely aligned with industry requirements. Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal said the conclave provided a common platform for Government Polytechnics and industry representatives to identify areas of collaboration, particularly in internships, placements, curriculum inputs, laboratory upgradation and expert-led learning initiatives. “The objective is to ensure that the deliberations at this conclave translate into actionable, long-term partnerships between industry and our technical institutions,” said Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal. Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal said discussions focused on strengthening internship and placement ecosystems, identifying emerging skills and curriculum requirements, aligning laboratories and workshops with modern industry practices, and creating structured roles for industry experts in student learning and faculty development. The Regional Industry-Academia Conclave witnessed participation from leading industry organisations and employers from manufacturing, automotive and auto components, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, steel and engineering sectors. Representatives from Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, Hartek Power, Tynor Orthotics Private Limited, Gilard Electronics Private Limited, Tata Electronics, Cheema Boilers, Hella India Lighting, Akzo Nobel/JSW Dulux and other organisations participated in the deliberations. Member, Punjab Development Commission, Anurag Kundu, Director Technical Education, Moneesh Kumar, Director (Academics), PSBTEIT, Dr. Bharat Naresh Bansal, and other senior officials from various State Government departments also attended the conclave.