Parliament Question: Promotion of Apprenticeship and DBT Support

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL AND DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2326 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 PROMOTION OF APPRENTICESHIP AND DBT SUPPORT †2326 SMT. SANJNA JATAV: SHRI. BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI. BALABHADRA MAJHI: SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI. ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI. MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY: SHRI. CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ: SHRI. KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI. KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI. PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: SHRI. NABA CHARAN MAJHI: SHRI. BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI. DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to strengthen collaboration with the industries, MSMEs and technology companies for providing industry-aligned skill training across the country, State/UT-wise including the initiatives undertaken in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies; (b) whether the Government has taken measures to promote and expand apprenticeship training under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and if so, the details thereof, including its implementation in the said Constituencies, sector and district-wise; (c) whether Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) support is being provided to apprentices under NAPS-2 and, if so, the details of number of beneficiaries along with financial assistance released to them from the said Constituencies, districts and Madhya Pradesh; and (d) the details of the specific initiatives taken/being taken by the Government to increase participation of women in apprenticeship training and expand apprenticeship opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, logistics, agriculture-processing and service sectors, and established skill development and apprenticeship centres across the country and the said State and Constituencies? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)(a) In order to strengthen collaboration with industries, MSMEs and technology companies for providing industry-aligned skill training across the country, including Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas- Shajapur Lok Sabha constituencies, the following specific steps have been taken by MSDE: i. National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been set up as an overarching regulator establishing regulations and standards to ensure quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space. ii. The Awarding Bodies recognized by NCVET are expected to develop the qualifications as per industry demand and map them with the identified occupations as per the National Classification of Occupations, 2015 and obtain industry validations. iii. 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry leaders in the respective sectors, have been set up, which identify the skill development needs of respective sectors as well as to determine skill competency standards. iv. Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the aegis of MSDE is implementing Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST), which are meant to provide training to ITI students in industrial environment as per their requirements. v. Under PMKVY, the new age/future skills job-roles have been specially aligned with Industry 4.0 requirements in areas like AI/ML, Robotics, Mechatronics, Drone Technology, etc. for upcoming market demand and industry requirements. vi. DGT has introduced new age /future skills courses under CTS to provide training in emerging areas such as 5G Network Technician, Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant, Cyber Security Assistant, Drone Technician etc. vii. DGT has signed MoU with IT Tech companies like IBM, CISCO, Microsoft, AWS etc. to ensure industry linkages for the institutes at the state and regional levels. These partnerships facilitate the provision of technical and professional skills training in modern technologies. viii. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisages greater integration of vocational education with mainstream education and promotes seamless mobility between academic and vocational pathways. In line with this vision, the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP), developed in collaboration with UGC and AICTE, enables students enrolled in degree and diploma programmes to undertake apprenticeship training as an integral part of their curriculum. The programme enhances employability, promotes outcome-based learning, strengthens industry-academia linkages and facilitates acquisition of industry-relevant skills. ix. Kaushal Melas and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are organised to facilitate placements and apprenticeship opportunities for the certified candidates. (b) The Government of India launched the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in August, 2016 with the objective of promoting apprenticeship training and increasing engagement of apprentices across the country. Since 2022-23, the scheme continues as NAPS- 2. Apprenticeship training is conducted in actual work environments using the training facilities available with participating establishments including MSMEs, enabling hands-on-learning and industry exposure. To strengthen collaboration with industries, MSMEs and technology-driven companies, apprenticeship training is delivered through participating establishments under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961. The scheme facilitates industry-led, on-the-job training through the National Apprenticeship Portal (www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in), support from Regional Directorates of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (RDSDEs), State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAAs) and empanelled Third Party Aggregators (TPAs). Further, Pradhan Mantri NationalApprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are organized regularly to promote apprenticeship opportunities and strengthen industry participation, including MSMEs. The State/UT-wise details of apprentices engaged and participating establishments under NAPS- 2 are placed at Table-I of the Annexure, while the corresponding details for the Bharatpur, Nabarangpur, and Dewas–Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026- 27 (up to June 2026) are placed at Table-II of the Annexure. Under NAPS-2, the Government provides partial stipend support to eligible apprentices engaged by establishments. The Government's share of stipend support is limited to 25% of the stipend paid, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per month per apprentice, which is disbursed directly into the bank account of the apprentice through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. To expand apprenticeship opportunities, the Government has: • Simplified apprenticeship engagement through the National Apprenticeship Portal; • Promoted participation of industries and MSMEs; • Introduced digital processing of contracts, and stipend support; • Facilitated apprenticeship engagement through TPAs; • Conducted PMNAMs for mobilization of youth and industry participation; and • Expanded apprenticeship opportunities across the Optional Trades and Designated Trades. Sector-wise and district-wise apprentices engaged in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas- Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026) are placed at Table-III of the Annexure. The number of unique establishments participating under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026- 27 (Upto June 2026) across all sectors, across the country, the concerned State, and in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies are placed at Table-IV of the Annexure. (c) The details of apprentices benefited and stipend support disbursed under NAPS-2, including in Madhya Pradesh and district-wise in the Bharatpur, Nabarangpur, and Dewas– Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies, are placed at Table-V and Table-VI of the Annexure. (d) To increase participation of women in apprenticeship training and expand apprenticeship opportunities across sectors, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme encourages engagement of apprentices, including women, across diverse sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, logistics, agriculture and allied activities, food processing, retail, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, IT-ITeS, electronics and other service sectors. The Government regularly organizes Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) across the country, in one-third of the districts of each State every month, with a focus on mobilizing youth, including women candidates. Further, during stakeholder engagements with States, Regional Directorates of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (RDSDEs), State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAAs), industries and Third-Party Aggregators (TPAs), special emphasis is placed on increasing the participation of women apprentices across sectors. To enhance availability of apprenticeship opportunities, the Apprentices Act, 1961 was amended in 2014 to introduce Optional Trades, enabling industries to design apprenticeship programmes aligned to their specific skill requirements. The scheme also promotes safe, inclusive and conducive training environments for all apprentices including women apprentices. Under Section 14 of the Apprentices Act, 1961,apprentices are covered by the relevant safety, health and welfare provisions applicable to workers under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Mines Act, 1952, as applicable. Consequently, apprentices are entitled to workplace safety measures, welfare facilities and protective provisions similar to regular employees. In addition, apprentices are covered under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act). Further, Section 15 of the Apprentices Act, 1961 regulates working hours and leave provisions. Apprentices aged 18 years and above are trained during normal working hours of the establishment, while working hours for apprentices below 18 years are ordinarily restricted between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, except where specifically permitted by the concerned Apprenticeship Adviser.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2326 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 REGARDING “PROMOTION OF APPRENTICESHIP AND DBT SUPPORT” Table-I: State/UT-wise details of apprentices engaged and the number of establishments participating under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026) are as under: S.No. State/UT Apprentices Engaged No. of Establishments 1. Andaman And Nicobar Islands 557 26 2. Andhra Pradesh 93,094 1,135 3. Arunachal Pradesh 425 33 4. Assam 35,057 692 5. Bihar 27,924 685 6. Chandigarh 5,574 183 7. Chhattisgarh 23,300 339 8. Delhi 92,956 898 9. Goa 42,714 511 10. Gujarat 3,84,790 9,279 11. Haryana 3,05,235 5,687 12. Himachal Pradesh 39,462 761 13. Jammu And Kashmir 4,305 542 14. Jharkhand 43,810 475 15. Karnataka 3,72,196 2,790 16. Kerala 59,020 1,846 17. Ladakh 180 16 18. Lakshadweep 37 2 19. Madhya Pradesh 1,15,010 1,179 20. Maharashtra 10,88,818 8,402 21. Manipur 492 35 22. Meghalaya 930 45 23. Mizoram 464 27 24. Nagaland 134 28 25. Odisha 46,351 715 26. Puducherry 15,002 252 27. Punjab 77,054 1,106 28. Rajasthan 95,061 1,145 29. Sikkim 1,651 82 30. Tamil Nadu 4,52,033 3,034 31. Telangana 1,63,194 1,298 32. The Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu 12,710 141 33. Tripura 1,828 79 34. Uttar Pradesh 3,38,200 6,925 35. Uttarakhand 98,098 872 36. West Bengal 1,22,655 1,380 Total 41,60,321 45,332Table-II: Details of apprentices engaged and number of establishments participating under NAPS-2 in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026) are as under. S.No. State/UT Apprentices Engaged No. of Establishments 1 Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituencies* 34,186 264 2 Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituencies 3,319 39 3 Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies 14,012 106 * Note: The data available under NAPS-2 pertains to administrative districts and not to individual Parliamentary Constituencies. Since Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituency comprises Assembly segments from Bharatpur, and portions of Alwar districts, constituency-wise segregation of apprenticeship data is not maintained under the scheme. Accordingly, the figures reported for 34,186 apprentices engaged across 264 establishments have been compiled based on the available district- level data for Bharatpur and Alwar districts Table-III: Sector-wise and district-wise apprentices engaged in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026) are as under: Bharatpur Dewas-Shajapur Nabarangpur Sr.N Sectors Alwa Bharatp Dewa Sehor Shajap Korap Malkang Nabarangp o. r ur s e ur ut iri ur Aerospace & 1 2 1 Aviation 2 Agriculture 3 7 1 1 3 Apparel 2 190 1 Apparel Made- 4 ups & Home 29 14 1,304 Furnishing 5 Automobile 862 23 194 14 173 2 13,15 6 Automotive 9 1,797 52 1 74 1 9 6 Banking, Financial 7 Services & 116 30 85 36 34 24 2 22 Insurance (BFSI) Beauty & 8 1 Wellness 9 Capital Goods 1,296 3 97 46 6 4 3 10 Chemical 31 116 11 Construction 168 18 13 2 3 2 7 Domestic 12 2 6 Workers Electrical (Including 13 New and 2,565 36 625 106 9 320 56 25 Renewable Energy) 14 Electronics 7,231 300 14 31 15 Fabrication 443 6 111 7 99 5 4 Food 16 42 1 26 9 Processing Furniture & 17 338 2 73 53 246 16 FittingsGem & 18 50 Jewellery 19 Green Jobs 37 2 20 Healthcare 12 5 3 3 1 Healthcare 21 1 and Wellness 22 Hydrocarbon 12 1 16 Industrial Automation 23 and 24 4 Instrumentatio n 24 Iron & Steel 268 9 31 10 23 51 51 25 IT-ITeS 203 20 333 63 16 43 22 26 Leather 286 27 Life Sciences 489 1 1,114 28 Logistics 692 3 37 354 Management & Entrepreneurs 29 381 4 38 21 2 20 2 15 hip and Professional Skills Media & 30 12 3 Entertainment 31 Mining 1 Paints & 32 1 Coatings 33 Plumbing 224 28 5 34 Power 331 86 84 31 2 30 15 Production 35 and 2,524 31 535 281 1,383 23 8 Manufacturing 36 Retail 216 62 154 3 3 121 2 97 37 Rubber 774 186 Services including 38 118 8 7 Repair and Maintenance 39 Telecom 138 38 30 14 12 2 40 Textile 315 5,160 Tourism & 41 426 2 3 63 2 31 11 214 Hospitality 33,81 Total 368 6,077 7,852 83 2,644 193 482 8Table-IV: The number of unique establishments participating under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2026-27 (Upto June 2026) across all sectors, across the country, the concerned State, and in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur and Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies are as under: No. of unique establishments engaging S.No. State/Districts/constituency apprentices under NAPS-2 1 PAN India 45,332 2 Madhya Pradesh 1179 3 Odisha 715 4 Rajasthan 1145 5 Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituency 264 6 Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency 39 7 Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituency 106 Table-V: Details of apprentices benefited and Govt. share of stipend amount disbursed through DBT under NAPS-2 in Madhya Pradesh are as under: Govt. share of stipend No. of beneficiary S. No. State amount disbursed through Apprentices under NAPS-2 DBT (Rs in Crore) 1. Madhya Pradesh 91,598 64.75 Table-VI: Details of apprentices benefited and Govt. share of stipend amount disbursed through DBT under NAPS-2 district-wise in Bharatpur, Nabarangpur, and Dewas–Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituencies, are as under: Govt. share of stipend amount No. of beneficiary Apprentices Districts disbursed through DBT (Rs in under NAPS-2 Crore) Bharatpur Lok Sabha 8,502 5.91 Constituencies Alwar 5,384 3.87 Bharatpur 3,118 2.04 Nabarangpur Lok Sabha 2,146 1.47 Constituencies Koraput 1,134 0.63 Malkangiri 424 0.34 Nabarangpur 588 0.50 Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha 6,796 5.18 Constituencies Dewas 3,670 3.12 Sehore 1,866 1.13 Shajapur 1,260 0.93 Note: DBT-based stipend support under NAPS-2 commenced from July 2023. *****