National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

✦Key Features

• 25% stipend reimbursement to employers (max ₹1,500/month/apprentice)
• Basic training cost reimbursement: up to ₹7,500 per apprentice
• 9.7 lakh+ apprentices engaged annually; 3x growth in 3 years
• Legal basis: Apprentices Act 1961; covers all industries
• Digital portal: apprenticeshipindia.gov.in for employer registration and candidate matching
• Replaced Apprentice Protsahan Yojana (APY); NAPS 2.0 under consideration
• Links with PMKVY for skilled workforce; National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) for graduates

✓Eligibility Criteria

• Establishments with more than 30 employees are mandatory participants, while those with 4-29 employees can join voluntarily.
• Apprentices must be at least 14 years of age, or 18 years for hazardous occupations.
• The apprentice must possess the minimum educational or technical qualifications required for the specific trade.
• Basic Training Providers (BTPs) and third-party aggregators acting as facilitating agencies.

★Benefits

• The government reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend, up to a maximum of Rs 1,500 per month per apprentice.
• The cost of basic training for apprentices without formal trade training is shared by the government up to Rs 7,500.
• Establishments can build a skilled workforce tailored to their specific industrial requirements.
• Apprentices gain industry-recognized certification and practical hands-on experience.

▶Application Process

• The employer or establishment registers on the dedicated apprenticeship portal.
• The establishment creates an apprenticeship opportunity and identifies candidates for training.
• An apprenticeship contract is signed online between the establishment and the apprentice.
• The contract is uploaded and registered on the portal for government approval and subsidy tracking.

₹ Budget Allocation

554

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 100% Central Sector Scheme (25% stipend reimbursement up to ₹1,500 per month).

Historical Context

Launched on August 19, 2016, to overhaul the traditional apprenticeship model under the Apprentices Act, 1961, which was previously perceived as overly punitive for employers.

Sub-Schemes

Challenges

• Low awareness among MSMEs regarding the benefits of the scheme.
• Complex registration processes for small-scale employers.
• Mismatch between local industry demand and available apprentice skill sets.
• Delayed reimbursement cycles in some regions despite DBT implementation.

Reforms & Recommendations

• Increase the reimbursement cap from ₹1,500 to adjust for inflation.
• Incentivize local language training modules to improve retention.
• Introduce 'Green Apprenticeships' to align with the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Performance Statistics

SDG Linkages

Constitutional Backing

Technology Used

Success Stories

Key Takeaways

• Government reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend.
• Maximum reimbursement of ₹1,500 per month per apprentice.
• Covers both 'Designated Trades' and 'Optional Trades'.
• Employer participation is mandatory for establishments with 30 or more employees.

Convergence Schemes

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

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