Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship addressed a proposal from the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) to increase apprenticeship stipends. The government has considered the CAC recommendation and initiated amendments to the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992. This includes a 36% increase in stipends, linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the inclusion of sectors like IT, Telecommunications, Biotechnology, and Renewable Energy. Additionally, efforts are underway to strengthen AI skill development through various initiatives.
Key Points / Main Content:
Apprenticeship Stipends:
* The CAC proposed a 36% increase in apprentice stipends.
* Future stipend revisions will be linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
* The revised stipend structure will apply to all apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
Sector Inclusion:
* Sectors like Information Technology, Telecommunications, Biotechnology, and Renewable Energy are included in the revised stipend structure.
AI Skill Development:
* The Ministry is strengthening AI skill development through DGT, NSDC, NAPS, and PMKVY 4.0.
* "AI for Entrepreneurship" micromodule on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has seen 23,163 enrolments since December 2024, with 11,089 certified.
* 34,709 individuals have been trained in AI-related job roles under PMKVY 4.0.
* 1,480 apprentices have been engaged in eight AI-related trades under NAPS2 between FY 2023-24 and FY 2025-26 (as of June 30, 2025).
* A new Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) trade, "Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant," launched in 2024-25 across 19 NSTIs, with a capacity of 504 students.
Impact Analysis:
Apprentices:
* Impact: Increased stipend amounts and expanded opportunities in emerging sectors.
* Action Required: Engage in apprenticeship programs under the revised stipend structure.
Employers:
* Impact: Revised stipend costs for apprentices and opportunities to train in AI-related fields.
* Action Required: Offer apprenticeships under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and NAPS2, especially in AI-related trades.
Training Institutes (NSTIs, DGT, NSDC):
* Impact: Enhanced training infrastructure and AI skill development programs.
* Action Required: Implement the new "Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant" CTS trade and promote AI-related training programs.
Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC):
* Impact: Recommendations for increased stipends and inclusion of new sectors have been considered.
* Action Required: Continue shaping national apprenticeship policies and aligning vocational training with industry demands.
Key Entities Referenced
Apprentices Act, 1961: The governing legislation for apprenticeship training in India.
Central Apprenticeship Council CAC: A council constituted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, responsible for shaping national apprenticeship policies.
PM National Apprenticeship Promotion scheme: A scheme to promote apprenticeship by providing financial incentives to employers.
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme: A scheme that facilitates practical training for students and graduates in various industries.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 PMKVY 4.0: A flagship skill development scheme aimed at providing industry-relevant training to the youth.
Directorate General of Training DGT: An organization under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship responsible for vocational training.
National Skill Development Corporation NSDC: A public-private partnership company promoting skill development in India.
Skill India Digital Hub SIDH: A digital platform integrating Skill India and Digital India initiatives for skill development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO – 209
ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025
PROPOSAL OF CSE FOR INCREASING APPRENTICESHIP STIPEND
209. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
Will the MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be
pleased to state:
(a) whether Central Apprenticeship Council (CSE) has given a proposal to the
Government to increase the apprenticeship stipend by 30 per cent under PM National
Apprenticeship Promotion scheme and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme to make
skill development more employment oriented, reduce dropout rate and attract more
candidates in different sectors;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government proposes to include demanding sectors like Information
Technology, Telecommunication, Biotechnology, Renewable Energy in the category of
selected sectors for stipend under the said schemes;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has launched /likely to launch a training program to provide
training to one lakh students in artificial intelligence and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) 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 a
36% increase in apprentice stipends, with a provision for future revisions to be linked to theConsumer Price Index (CPI). 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. The revised stipend structure
will apply to all apprentices engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961, including those in
emerging sectors such as Information Technology, Telecommunications, Biotechnology, and
Renewable Energy.
(e) The Ministry is actively working to strengthen training infrastructure and promote
artificial intelligence (AI) skill development through the Directorate General of Training (DGT),
the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and flagship initiatives such as the
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0). As part of this effort, a self-learning micro-module titled ‘AI for
Entrepreneurship’, available on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), has seen 23,163
enrolments since its launch in December 2024, with 11,089 participants certified so far. SIDH
is a mobile-first digital public infrastructure (DPI) that integrates Skill India and Digital India
initiatives. Under PMKVY 4.0, a total of 34,709 individuals have been trained in AI-related job
roles such as Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, and
DevOps Engineer, among others. Additionally, apprenticeship training under the Apprentices
Act, 1961, allows establishments with four or more workers to offer AI-related on-the-job
learning opportunities. Under NAPS-2, 1,480 apprentices have been engaged in eight AI-
related trades between FY 2023–24 and FY 2025–26 (as of June 30, 2025). Further
enhancing foundational AI training, a new Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) trade titled
Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant has been launched from the 2024–25 session
across 19 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), with an annual intake capacity of 504
students.
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