Apprenticeship Reforms and the Central Apprenticeship Council’s Recommendations
Apprenticeship Reforms and the Central Apprenticeship Council’s Recommendations
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.
The number of apprentices currently undergoing apprenticeship training under NAPS-2 as on 30th June 2025 is 8,52,376 of which 1,95,680 are women apprentices across pan India level. The State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh number of apprentices currently undergoing training is at Annexure-I.
Under NAPS-2, to encourage greater participation from establishments in apprenticeship training, the Ministry has simplified processes through multiple Office Memorandums (OMs), upgraded the apprenticeship portal, and revised NAPS guidelines. Larger establishments can now provide basic training in-house, and centralized establishments may register under a single RDSDE.
The Ministry is actively engaging CPSUs with dedicated meetings held to explore expansion under NAPS-2. Monitoring mechanisms have been strengthened through a three-tier system involving central, regional, and state-level advisors to boost industry participation, ensure compliance, and drive apprenticeship engagement. Regular zonal review meetings with states are being held, and underperforming TPAs are being monitored and removed.
Over 36,000 establishments have participated in 5,339 Prime Minister National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) since June 2022. Financial support is now provided to states to organize Apprenticeship Melas, enhancing outreach efforts. Letters and outreach have been directed to top corporate houses, MSME clusters, and state officials to promote industry involvement. Meetings with industry players, Sector Skill Councils, and CPSUs have been conducted to improve collaboration.
Application Programme Interface (API) integration with state and central portals is underway to streamline processes and data sharing. A digital awareness campaign was launched in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Policy changes, like increased stipends and the introduction of Certificate of Proficiency, further aim to make apprenticeship more attractive for establishments and as well as apprentices. Further, Pilot initiative for special intervention for promotion of apprenticeship in North Eastern Region (NER) focuses towards increased establishment participation as well as apprentices of NER.
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS‑2)—launched in 2016 and revamped under Skill India—offers apprentices structured, paid on-the-job training across traditional and emerging sectors, with financial incentives for the benefit of the trainees directly through stipend support. Apprenticeships empower youth in tech-driven fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), green energy, and healthcare—by providing industry-aligned, hands-on experience that boosts employment or entrepreneurial success.
The scheme promotes inclusive growth through participation from marginalized communities and female enrolment, and extends to underserved regions including the Northeast via special pilot initiatives that provides an additional amount of Rs 1,500/- over and above the Government share of stipend. Industry collaboration through Optional Trades ensures curriculum relevance, while enhancing global competitiveness.
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 towards 2047 by bridging India’s skill gap, enhancing employability and fueling industrial growth.
ANNEXURE – I
The State-wise number of apprentices currently undergoing training is given below:
S.
No
State
Apprentices currently undergoing training
Women
Men
Total
Andaman And Nicobar Islands
89
133
222
Andhra Pradesh
3,798
16,935
20,733
Arunachal Pradesh
35
34
69
Assam
2,086
3,663
5,749
Bihar
533
2,743
3,276
Chandigarh
411
689
1,100
Chhattisgarh
921
4,313
5,234
Delhi
4,867
14,093
18,960
Goa
3,979
6,868
10,847
Gujarat
17,253
62,772
80,025
Haryana
12,004
46,082
58,086
Himachal Pradesh
1,643
6,244
7,887
Jammu And Kashmir
276
953
1,229
Jharkhand
1,304
8,554
9,858
Karnataka
16,791
60,026
76,817
Kerala
3,824
7,753
11,577
Ladakh
33
10
43
Lakshadweep
6
2
8
Madhya Pradesh
5,860
15,640
21,500
Maharashtra
50,125
1,81,823
2,31,948
Manipur
73
44
117
Meghalaya
75
114
189
Mizoram
57
100
157
Nagaland
7
11
18
Odisha
1,669
8,579
10,248
Puducherry
1,171
2,893
4,064
Punjab
3,399
9,638
13,037
Rajasthan
3,732
17,267
20,999
Sikkim
160
267
427
Tamil Nadu
27,675
75,350
1,03,025
Telangana
7,496
20,828
28,324
The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
694
2,333
3,027
Tripura
51
219
270
Uttar Pradesh
13,776
50,277
64,053
Uttarakhand
4,470
15,274
19,744
West Bengal
5,337
14,172
19,509
Total
1,95,680
6,56,696
8,52,376
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.