#arbitrary cut-off marks

Supreme Court bars states from downgrading the mandatory Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) certificate to a mere preference for ITI instructor posts. The ruling reaffirms the Centre’s 1996 directive and directs Uttar Pradesh to recruit eligible candidates despite delays.

Supreme Court invalidated Uttar Pradesh's 2014 ITI Instructor Rules for diluting the mandatory CITS certificate requirement, holding arbitrary cut-off marks fixation unconstitutional. Affected candidates must be recruited against current vacancies, reinforcing central government vocational training standards.