Status of Apprentice Scheme
Status of Apprentice Scheme
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) aims to promote apprenticeship training throughout the country. Initially launched in August 2016, the scheme is currently being continued under its second phase, NAPS-2. Under NAPS-2, the Government shares partial stipend support, limited to 25% of the minimum prescribed stipend payable to apprentices, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month during the training period. The stipend support is disbursed directly to the apprentices’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
To further strengthen apprenticeship training, recent reforms include a proposed 36% stipend hike (from ₹5,000–9,000 to ₹6,800–12,300) tied to Consumer Price Index attract talent and supports apprentices from getting dropped in between the training programme. Major reforms as decision of 38th Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) include linking degree programs with apprenticeships, blended training modes, reserved slots for persons with benchmark disabilities and expanding training into emerging sectors such as Information Technology (IT), biotech, renewable energy and telecommunications by updating industrial classifications to National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008 sets the tone of Apprenticeship Training by bridging India’s skill gap, enhancing employability and fuelling industrial growth.
In the current financial year (2025-26), a physical target of 13 lakh apprentices has been set under the scheme (NAPS-2), out of which 3.99 lakh apprentices have been engaged up to July 2025, with the balance proposed to be achieved in the remaining months of the year.
Under NAPS-2, apprenticeship training is being offered across 49 sectors nationwide, with major sectors including Automotive, IT-ITeS, Electronics, Retail, and Production & Manufacturing, among others.
The application process for apprenticeship positions entails that an eligible candidate, meeting the prescribed minimum age of 14 years (18 years for hazardous industries) and possessing the requisite educational/technical and physical qualifications as per the curriculum of the concerned trade (minimum of 5th class pass), shall register on the Apprenticeship Portal (https://apprenticeshipindia.org) using Aadhaar or a Unique Identification Number.
The candidate may access the “Get Started” option on the portal, follow the “Candidate User Manual,” search for apprenticeship opportunities posted by establishments, apply to potential employers, receive offer letters, accept the same, execute the contract of apprenticeship online, and thereafter commence training.
Under NAPS, a total of 41,95,703 apprentices engaged across the country from FY 2018-19 to FY 2025-26 (Upto July 2025), of which 21,47,122 apprentices completed the apprenticeship training.
Apprenticeship training is one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India and contributes to ‘Skill India’. Various reforms, including amendments in 2014 to the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the Rules in 2019 and launch of National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) have been carried out to facilitate the establishments to engage more number of apprentices. A national portal (www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) for the scheme supplements the scheme’s effort to expand throughout the country.
Further, since June 2022, Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) facilitates candidates to avail opportunities in Apprenticeship training and facilitates establishment to identify potential candidates and in selection of Apprentices. The event is conducted every month on the 2nd Monday, in at least 1/3rd of the districts of each State. In addition, awareness workshops assist in promoting the scheme amongst various stake holders throughout the country.
The Apprentices Act allows establishments to use their facilities for training apprentices. Under the Act, establishments with four or more employees are eligible to engage apprentices, while those with 30 or more employees, apprentices engagement is mandatory. The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), constituted under the Act, plays a pivotal role in shaping national apprenticeship policies, aligning vocational training with industry demands, and expanding opportunities across diverse sectors of the economy.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Sh. Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.