Parliament Question: Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO. 1215 ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025 APPRENTICESHIP EMBEDDED DEGREE PROGRAMMES 1215. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY: Will the MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to formalize Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes so that apprentices can earn recognized degrees along with the practical training and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether it is true that the Government is planning to deploy such skilled people with these degrees at overseas client sites and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the fragmentation of skill schemes between Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skill Development not cause duplication and inefficiency; (d) If so, whether the Government proposes to establish a uniform apprenticeship portal to integrate certification, data sharing and employer outreach to streamline the process, reduce compliance friction and improve access to apprentices and employers; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme (AEDP) was announced in Union Budget 2020-21 to improve employability of students. Accordingly, AICTE has communicated to its approved institutions regarding introduction of Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme for technical students. The Ministry of Education constituted a committee for framing guidelines on “Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme for Technical Education dated 6th June, 2023. After various meetings of the committee and incorporating suggestions from the Committee Members, Stakeholders, MSDE and NCVET and also from MoE, AICTE has framed the final guidelines on Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Program (AEDP-TI) for AICTE approved institutions. AEDP guidelines provide flexible regulatory framework for promoting degree/diploma apprenticeships and addresses the issues like progression into higher qualifications, responsibilities of stakeholders for ensuring quality apprenticeship training, support of government/industry organizations inenhancing industry-institution collaboration and streamlining regulatory processes. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) through detailed deliberation and discussion by experts and stakeholders has formulated Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Program for technical education. Same is approved by Ministry of Education (MoE) vide letter no.16-5/2020-TS.VIII (part II) dated 4th November, 2024. However, recognizing the fact that apprenticeship has a significant role to play in linking higher education with the requirements of the industry, UGC has launched the "Guidelines for Higher Education Institutions to offer Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme" in all disciplines as specified by the UGC under the UGC Act to embed apprenticeship into the degree. While UGC’s programmes for skill-based education emphasize on developing skilled workforce with vocational education, this emphasis on Apprenticeship is to improve the employability of students in the general stream. The main objectives are to enhance the employability of students pursuing Undergraduate level degree programmes; to focus on outcome-based learning in all degree programmes to achieve graduate attributes and desired proficiency levels; to promote active linkage between higher educational institutions and industries/establishments; to bridge the skill gap in the industries by effectively implementing AEDP in partnership with higher educational institutions and/or Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT)/ Board of Practical Training (BOPT). (a) Apprenticeship training in India, governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the rules framed thereunder, serves as a cornerstone for skill development through industry-led, on-the-job training. 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. The 38th meeting of the CAC, held on 26th May 2025, marked a significant step forward in modernizing the country’s apprenticeship ecosystem. Among the key decisions taken was enabling establishments to deploy apprentices at client locations within the country or abroad during the practical training period subject to approval of the apprenticeship adviser concerned. The recommendation of the CAC has been taken into consideration by the Government, and the process for amending the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 has been initiated for notification in the Official Gazette. (b) It has been decided in consultation with the Department of Higher Education (DHE) that the DHE would continue to handle apprenticeship programs for recent engineering graduates, diploma holders, students in sandwich engineering courses, and general graduates such as those with B.A., B.Com., and B.Sc. degrees. MSDE would be responsible for apprenticeship programs for all other categories of apprentices. A clarification about Optional Trades was also issued by MSDE on June 16, 2023. (d) &(e) The process flows of the IT platforms of both NAPS and NATS were found to be different, but measures have been initiated to create a common access point for both portals to improve user experience and reduce compliance issues. *****