Lok Sabha Question No. 1251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Apprenticeship Reforms and the Central Apprenticeship Council’s Recommendations
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, Shri Praveen Patel

## 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  30 th   June  2025  is 8,52,376 of which 1,95,680 are women apprentices across pan India level. The State/UTwise  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.  Monitoring

mechanisms  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 ₹6,80012,300) tied to Consumer Price Index attract talent and supports apprentices  from getting dropped  in  between  the  training  programme.  Major  reforms  as decision  of  38 th   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 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. No   | State                                        | Apprentices currently undergoing training   | Apprentices currently undergoing training   | Apprentices currently undergoing training   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| S. No   | State                                        | 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 Daman and Diu | 694                                         | 2,333                                       | 3,027                                       |
| 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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