Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship addresses apprenticeship reforms under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS2), launched in August 2016 and continued in its second phase. As of June 30, 2025, 8,52,376 apprentices are undergoing training, with government support provided through direct benefit transfers. The policy aims to increase industry participation, reduce dropout rates, and align apprenticeship programs with the goal of building a developed India by 2047.
Key Points / Main Content:
NAPS2 and Stipend Support:
* NAPS2 provides partial stipend support, up to ₹1,500 per month per apprentice (25% of the minimum prescribed stipend), disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
* As of June 30, 2025, 8,52,376 apprentices are undergoing training under NAPS2, including 1,95,680 women.
* State/UT-wise data on the number of apprentices is provided in Annexure I.
Measures to Increase Company Involvement and Reduce Dropouts:
* Simplified processes via Office Memorandums (OMs), upgrades to the apprenticeship portal, and revised NAPS guidelines.
* Larger establishments can provide in-house basic training; centralized establishments can register under a single RDSDE.
* Strengthened monitoring via a three-tier system (central, regional, state advisors).
* Financial support to states for organizing Apprenticeship Melas.
* API integration with state and central portals to streamline processes and data sharing.
* Digital awareness campaign launched with UNDP.
* Policy changes, including increased stipends and Certificate of Proficiency.
* Pilot initiative for special intervention for promotion of apprenticeship in the North Eastern Region (NER).
Alignment with Developed India Goal by 2047:
* Apprenticeships provide structured, paid on-the-job training in traditional and emerging sectors.
* Focus on tech-driven fields like AI, IoT, green energy, and healthcare.
* Promotes inclusive growth through participation from marginalized communities and female enrolment, including special initiatives in underserved regions.
* Industry collaboration ensures curriculum relevance and enhances global competitiveness.
* Stipend hike proposal (₹6,800-₹12,300) tied to the Consumer Price Index.
* Linking degree programs with apprenticeships, blended training modes, reserved slots for persons with benchmark disabilities, and expanding training into emerging sectors.
Impact Analysis
Government:
* Impact: Oversees and provides financial support for apprenticeship programs, monitors program effectiveness, and ensures alignment with national skill development goals.
* Action Required: Continue to refine and implement NAPS2, monitor program outcomes, and adjust policies to maximize industry participation and apprentice success.
Establishments:
* Impact: Encouraged to participate in apprenticeship programs by providing training and employment opportunities.
* Action Required: Register on the apprenticeship portal, offer apprenticeship positions, provide quality training, and comply with NAPS2 guidelines.
Apprentices:
* Impact: Receive structured, paid on-the-job training, enhancing their employability and entrepreneurial potential.
* Action Required: Enroll in apprenticeship programs, actively participate in training, and leverage the opportunity to gain industry-relevant skills.
States/UTs:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring apprenticeship programs within their jurisdictions.
* Action Required: Organize Apprenticeship Melas, promote industry involvement, and ensure compliance with NAPS2 guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: A scheme (NAPS and NAPS2) by the Government of India to promote apprenticeship training throughout the country, providing stipend support to apprentices.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of State/UT-wise apprenticeship numbers.
Direct Benefit Transfer: DBT mechanism used to disburse stipend support directly to apprentices' bank accounts.
Prime Minister National Apprenticeship Melas: PMNAMs are events organized to promote apprenticeship, with over 36,000 establishments participating since June 2022.
United Nations Development Programme: UNDP, partnered with the Ministry for a digital awareness campaign related to apprenticeship.
Skill India: An initiative under which NAPS2 was revamped, offering structured, paid on-the-job training across sectors.
Artificial Intelligence: AI, a tech-driven field where apprenticeships are empowering youth.
Central Apprenticeship Council: CAC, the council whose decisions included linking degree programs with apprenticeships and expanding training into emerging sectors.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO – 1251
ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025
APPRENTICESHIP REFORMS AND THE CENTRAL APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL’S
RECOMMENDATIONS
1251. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
Will the MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be
pleased to state :
(a) the total number of young people and women are currently doing apprenticeships
under these schemes across the country, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to involve more companies and to reduce
the number of students dropping out of apprenticeship programmes;
(c) whether the Government is connecting these apprenticeship efforts with the larger
goal of building a developed India by 2047; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) 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.
(b) 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. Monitoringmechanisms 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.
(c) & (d) 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 fuelling industrial growth.ANNEXURE - I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1251 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025.
The State-wise number of apprentices currently undergoing training is given below:
S. State Apprentices currently undergoing
No training
Women Men Total
1. Andaman And Nicobar Islands 89 133 222
2. Andhra Pradesh 3,798 16,935 20,733
3. Arunachal Pradesh 35 34 69
4. Assam 2,086 3,663 5,749
5. Bihar 533 2,743 3,276
6. Chandigarh 411 689 1,100
7. Chhattisgarh 921 4,313 5,234
8. Delhi 4,867 14,093 18,960
9. Goa 3,979 6,868 10,847
10. Gujarat 17,253 62,772 80,025
11. Haryana 12,004 46,082 58,086
12. Himachal Pradesh 1,643 6,244 7,887
13. Jammu And Kashmir 276 953 1,229
14. Jharkhand 1,304 8,554 9,858
15. Karnataka 16,791 60,026 76,817
16. Kerala 3,824 7,753 11,577
17. Ladakh 33 10 43
18. Lakshadweep 6 2 8
19. Madhya Pradesh 5,860 15,640 21,500
20. Maharashtra 50,125 1,81,823 2,31,948
21. Manipur 73 44 117
22. Meghalaya 75 114 189
23. Mizoram 57 100 157
24. Nagaland 7 11 18
25. Odisha 1,669 8,579 10,248
26. Puducherry 1,171 2,893 4,064
27. Punjab 3,399 9,638 13,037
28. Rajasthan 3,732 17,267 20,999
29. Sikkim 160 267 427
30. Tamil Nadu 27,675 75,350 1,03,025
31. Telangana 7,496 20,828 28,324
32. The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and 694 2,333 3,027
Daman and Diu
33. Tripura 51 219 270
34. Uttar Pradesh 13,776 50,277 64,053
35. Uttarakhand 4,470 15,274 19,744
36. West Bengal 5,337 14,172 19,509
Total 1,95,680 6,56,696 8,52,376
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