Parliament Question: Apprenticeship Opportunities in Assam

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3626 ANSWERED ON: 10.08.2026 APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN ASSAM 3626. MD.RAKIBUL HUSSAIN: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has observed a decline in apprenticeship opportunities in Assam during the last five years and the current year; (b) if so, the details of number of apprentices engaged and the sectors in which the decline has been most pronounced year-wise; (c) the reasons for such decline, including industry participation, regulatory issues or lack of awareness among youth; and (d) the specific policy interventions undertaken by the Government to expand apprenticeship coverage, particularly in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and emerging sectors in Assam? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is being implemented across the country, including Assam, to promote apprenticeship training and enhance the employability of youth through industry-led, on-the-job learning. Under NAPS/NAPS-2, apprenticeship engagement in Assam shown down trend from FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25 However, apprenticeship engagement recovered significantly thereafter, with 10,028 apprentices engaged during FY 2025-26, indicating renewed momentum in apprenticeship adoption in the State. One of the key initiatives supporting this growth is the North Eastern Region (NER) Apprenticeship Promotion Pilot, launched on 20 May 2025, under which eligible apprentices from NER receive an additional financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month over and above the stipend support available under NAPS-2. (b) Under NAPS-2, 49,064 apprentices have been engaged in Assam from FY 2021-22 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026). Year-wise engagement details are as follows: FY Apprentices Engaged in Assam 2021-22 14,007 2022-23 9,660 2023-24 8,174 2024-25 5,801FY Apprentices Engaged in Assam 2025-26 10,028 2026-27* 1,394 TOTAL 49,064 *Upto June 2026. The down trend in apprenticeship engagement observed up to FY 2024-25 was more pronounced in sectors such as IT-ITeS, Food Processing, Domestic Workers, Construction, Automotive, which traditionally account for a significant share of apprenticeship opportunities in the State. However, apprenticeship engagement rebounded during FY 2025-26 following enhanced outreach efforts and the launch of the North Eastern Region (NER) Apprenticeship Promotion Pilot. Sector-wise details of apprentices engaged in Assam under NAPS during the last five years and the current year are placed at Table-I of the Annexure. (c) Apprenticeship engagement under NAPS is demand-driven and is influenced by factors such as participation of establishments, sector-wise workforce requirements, prevailing economic conditions, availability of apprenticeship opportunities, and willingness of eligible youth to undertake apprenticeship training. The decline observed in apprenticeship engagement in Assam up to FY 2024-25 may be attributed to variations in industry demand and establishment participation across sectors. However, apprenticeship engagement witnessed a significant improvement during FY 2025-26, supported by enhanced outreach efforts, increased mobilisation of candidates, and targeted initiatives for promotion of apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region. (d) To expand apprenticeship opportunities in Assam, including among MSMEs and emerging sectors, the Government has undertaken the following measures: • Providing stipend support under NAPS-2 through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, with Government reimbursement of 25% of the prescribed stipend, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month. • Launching a special pilot initiative for promotion of apprenticeship in the North- Eastern Region, providing an additional ₹1,500 per month to eligible apprentices from NER. • Organising Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) every month since June 2022 to facilitate mobilisation of candidates and support establishments in engaging apprentices. • Conducting awareness and outreach programmes to encourage participation of establishments, particularly MSMEs, and eligible youth in apprenticeship training. • Promoting apprenticeship opportunities across diverse sectors, including IT-ITeS, Retail, Food Processing, Logistics, Electrical (including Renewable Energy), Tourism & Hospitality, BFSI, Automotive and Production & Manufacturing, which have recorded significant apprenticeship engagement in Assam.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3626 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING “APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN ASSAM” Table I: Sector-wise details of apprentices engaged in the state of Assam under NAPS during last five years and current year upto June, 2026 is as under: S.N 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025- 2026- Sector Name o. 22 23 24 25 26 27 1. Aerospace & Aviation 0 0 1 1 4 0 2. Agriculture 17 192 57 145 220 30 3. Agriculture and Allied Services 1 11 0 0 1 0 4. Apparel 0 0 3 0 0 0 5. Apparel Made-ups & Home Furnishing 24 1,043 33 102 121 41 6. Automobile 118 330 216 276 821 21 7. Automotive 601 359 44 641 502 3 8. Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) 499 266 284 279 348 120 9. Beauty & Wellness 0 268 0 0 0 1 10. Capital Goods 86 56 57 38 44 6 11. Chemical 148 70 54 1 29 18 12. Construction 1,777 130 274 90 184 7 13. Domestic Workers 2,604 411 35 59 20 0 14. Electrical (Including New and Renewable 207 232 182 143 1,046 37 Energy) 15. Electronics 51 82 71 51 116 4 16. Fabrication 77 77 131 47 326 6 17. Food Processing 271 410 1,954 416 391 53 18. Food Processing and Preservation 0 1 2 49 223 34 19. Furniture & Fittings 284 248 56 40 2 0 20. Gem & Jewellery 0 0 0 3 0 0 21. Healthcare 3 0 43 15 36 2 22. Healthcare and Wellness 1 0 0 0 2 0 23. Hydrocarbon 23 2 20 34 108 0 24. Industrial Automation and Instrumentation 8 15 15 5 51 3 25. Iron & Steel 0 1 42 9 30 1 26. IT-ITeS 5,003 3,599 2,057 842 970 196 27. Leather 0 0 0 0 2 0 28. Life Sciences 31 39 64 61 86 27 29. Logistics 91 27 336 381 870 248 30. Management & Entrepreneurship and 168 189 446 224 125 11 Professional Skills 31. Marine 0 0 1 0 11 0 32. Mining 0 2 0 1 14 0 33. Mining and Minerals 0 1 0 0 0 0 34. Paints & Coatings 1 3 0 0 0 0 35. Persons with Disability 0 0 0 1 0 0 36. Plumbing 0 0 3 0 2 0 37. Power 283 124 28 20 28 2 38. Production and Manufacturing 326 276 326 320 1,035 68S.N 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025- 2026- Sector Name o. 22 23 24 25 26 27 39. Retail 859 526 817 675 1,197 311 40. Retails and Logistics 1 5 0 0 0 0 41. Rubber 91 27 46 244 212 35 42. Services including Repair and Maintenance 21 31 14 1 92 0 43. Sports, Physical Education, Fitness & Leisure 0 0 1 0 0 0 44. Telecom 300 385 255 87 100 51 45. Textile 8 1 0 42 33 0 46. Tourism & Hospitality 24 221 206 458 626 58 TOTAL 14,007 9,660 8,174 5,801 10,028 1,394 *****