**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched the extension of the Special Intervention for Promotion of Apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region (NER) under PM-NAPS for FY 2026–27. This initiative aims to engage 30,000 apprentices with a total financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore to enhance youth employability and industry participation across all eight North-Eastern States. The program, implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, builds upon the successful results of the 2025 pilot phase.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Targets and Scope**
* **Total Apprenticeship Target:** Set at 30,000 apprentices for FY 2026–27, representing a 15% increase over the pilot phase.
* **Geographic Distribution:** 15,000 apprentices will be supported within the NER (including domicile states), while 15,000 will be supported in opportunities outside the region in Government Departments and PSUs.
* **Regional Coverage:** The intervention covers all eight North-Eastern States to deepen apprenticeship penetration.
**Financial Provisions**
* **Total Budgetary Allocation:** A financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore has been earmarked for FY 2026–27.
* **Monthly Incentives:** Apprentices receive an additional financial incentive of ₹1,500 per month above standard PM-NAPS support.
* **Eligibility Expansion:** The additional ₹1,500 incentive, previously focused on those moving outside their domicile state, now includes apprentices engaged within their home states in the NER.
**Strategic Focus and Implementation**
* **Implementing Agency:** The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, is responsible for executing the intervention.
* **Ecosystem Building:** Focus remains on awareness campaigns, workshops, employer engagement programs, and collaboration with educational and industry stakeholders.
* **Skill India Mission:** The initiative aligns with the broader Skill India Mission to create sustainable livelihood pathways.
**Performance Background (Pilot Phase Results)**
* **Engagement Growth:** Apprenticeship engagement in the NER grew by 51% (from 15,562 in FY 2024–25 to 23,470 in FY 2025–26).
* **Target Achievement:** The pilot achieved over 90% of its target, engaging 23,470 out of 26,000 projected apprentices.
* **Key Beneficiaries:** Meghalaya recorded the highest growth (95%), with significant increases in female participation and a doubling of engagement in Government establishments.
**Impact Analysis**
**Youth of the North-Eastern Region**
**Impact**
Improved access to quality workplace experience and industry-relevant training both within and outside their home states. They benefit from enhanced financial support via the expanded ₹1,500 monthly incentive.
**Action Required**
Eligible youth should seek out and enroll in apprenticeship opportunities under the PM-NAPS NER component.
**Industry and Government Establishments**
**Impact**
Greater availability of a talented, aspirational workforce and strengthened local apprenticeship ecosystems. Government establishments previously saw a doubling of participation during the pilot phase.
**Action Required**
Establishments must engage with the MSDE and IIE Guwahati to offer apprenticeship slots and participate in employer engagement programs.
**Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati**
**Impact**
Responsible for the direct implementation and success of the extended intervention for FY 2026–27.
**Action Required**
Coordinate workshops, awareness campaigns, and collaborations with educational institutions and industry stakeholders to meet the 30,000-apprentice target.
Key Entities Referenced
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS): The primary central government scheme providing the framework and financial component for the special apprenticeship intervention.
Special Intervention for Promotion of Apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region (NER): A targeted initiative extended for FY 2026–27 to increase apprenticeship penetration and provide additional monthly financial incentives to youth in the North-East.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The central ministry responsible for launching, funding, and expanding the scope of the apprenticeship intervention.
North-Eastern Region (NER): The central geographic scope of the policy, encompassing eight states where specialized apprenticeship targets and local engagement programs are applied.
Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati: The nodal agency designated to implement the special apprenticeship intervention across the North-Eastern states.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
MSDE Extends Special Intervention under PM-
NAPS to Boost Apprenticeship Opportunities for
Youth in the North-Eastern Region
प्रव तथ: 17 JUL 2026 3:21PM by PIB Delhi
Reinforcing its commitment to expanding quality apprenticeship opportunities and strengthening youth
employability in the North-Eastern Region (NER), the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the Extension of the Special Intervention for Promotion of
Apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region (NER) under the Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship
Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) for FY 2026–27, to be implemented by the Indian Institute of
Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati. Building on the success of the pilot initiative launched in May 2025,
the extended intervention aims to deepen apprenticeship penetration across all eight North-Eastern States,
enhance participation of industry and government establishments, and create sustainable livelihood
pathways for the region's youth under the Skill India Mission.
The Ministry has expanded the scope of the intervention for FY 2026–27 with a higher target of 30,000
apprentices, an increase of around 15 per cent over the pilot phase. Of these, 15,000 apprentices will be
supported for opportunities outside the North-East, including Government Departments and Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs), while another 15,000 apprentices will be engaged within the region, including
within their domicile States.
The Government has earmarked a financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore for the initiative during FY 2026–27.
The allocation will be met through the North-Eastern Region component of PM-NAPS.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister
of State for Education, Government of India, said, "The North-Eastern Region is one of India's greatest
strengths, with a young, talented and aspirational population ready to contribute to the nation's growth
story. The remarkable success of the pilot initiative demonstrates that with the right opportunities and
support, our youth can unlock their full potential. By extending this intervention under PM-NAPS, we are
expanding access to quality apprenticeship opportunities, strengthening local ecosystems, encouraging
industry participation, and enabling young people from the region to gain valuable workplace experience
both within the North-East and across the country."
The extended intervention also broadens the coverage of the additional financial incentive of ₹1,500 per
month, over and above the support available under PM-NAPS. While the pilot primarily supported
apprentices moving outside their domicile State, the revised initiative will now include apprentices
engaged within their home States in the North-East.
In addition to financial assistance, the initiative will continue to focus on strengthening the apprenticeship
ecosystem through workshops, awareness campaigns, employer engagement programmes and
collaboration with educational institutions and industry stakeholders across the region.The pilot initiative has delivered encouraging results within its first year. Against a target of 26,000
apprentices, the programme facilitated the engagement of 23,470 apprentices, achieving over 90 per cent
of its target. Apprenticeship engagement in the region grew by 51 per cent, increasing from 15,562 in FY
2024–25 to 23,470 in FY 2025–26. The initiative also successfully promoted mobility, with 13,673
apprentices securing opportunities outside their domicile State while 9,797 apprentices were engaged
within the North-East.
The pilot intervention witnessed encouraging growth in apprenticeship participation across the North-
Eastern Region, with Meghalaya recording the highest increase of 95 percent. Women emerged as key
beneficiaries, with a notable rise in female apprenticeship engagement. Employer participation also
expanded significantly, with apprenticeship engagement through Government establishments doubling and
private sector participation witnessing substantial growth.
By expanding access to industry-relevant training and employment opportunities, the initiative reaffirms
the Government's commitment to empowering the youth of the North-Eastern Region and accelerating
inclusive growth through the Skill India Mission.
***
SH
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2285718) आगंतुक पटल : 449
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Manipuri , Tamil