Lok Sabha Question No. 1215 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO. 1215

ANSWERED ON 28/07/2025

## APPRENTICESHIP EMBEDDED DEGREE PROGRAMMES

1215.         SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:

Will the MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formalize  Apprenticeship  Embedded Degree Programmes so that apprentices can earn recognized degrees along with the practical training and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that the Government is planning to deploy such skilled people with these degrees at overseas client sites and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the fragmentation of skill  schemes  between  Ministry  of Education  and the Ministry of Skill Development not cause duplication and inefficiency;
- (d) If  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  a  uniform  apprenticeship portal  to  integrate  certification,  data  sharing  and  employer  outreach  to  streamline  the process, reduce compliance friction and improve access to  apprentices and employers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme (AEDP) was announced in Union Budget 2020-21 to improve employability of students. Accordingly, AICTE has communicated to its approved institutions regarding introduction  of  Apprenticeship Embedded  Degree/Diploma  Programme  for  technical students. The Ministry of Education constituted a committee for framing guidelines on 'Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme for Technical Education dated 6th June, 2023.  After various meetings of the committee and incorporating suggestions from the Committee Members, Stakeholders, MSDE and NCVET and also from MoE, AICTE has framed the final guidelines on Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Program (AEDP-TI) for AICTE approved institutions. AEDP guidelines provide flexible regulatory framework for promoting degree/diploma apprenticeships and addresses the issues  like  progression  into  higher  qualifications,  responsibilities  of  stakeholders  for ensuring quality apprenticeship training, support of government/industry organizations in

enhancing  industry-institution  collaboration  and  streamlining  regulatory  processes.  All India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  through  detailed  deliberation  and discussion  by  experts  and  stakeholders  has  formulated  Apprenticeship  Embedded Degree/Diploma  Program  for  technical  education.  Same  is  approved  by  Ministry  of Education (MoE) vide letter no.16-5/2020-TS.VIII (part II) dated 4th November, 2024.

However, recognizing the fact that apprenticeship has a significant role to play in linking higher  education  with  the  requirements  of  the  industry,  UGC  has  launched  the "Guidelines for Higher Education Institutions to offer Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme" in all disciplines as specified by the UGC under the UGC Act to embed apprenticeship  into  the  degree.  While  UGC's programmes  for  skill-based  education emphasize on developing skilled workforce with vocational education, this emphasis on Apprenticeship is to improve the employability of students in the general stream. The main objectives are to enhance the employability of students pursuing Undergraduate level degree programmes; to focus on outcome-based learning in all degree programmes to achieve graduate attributes and desired proficiency levels; to promote active  linkage  between  higher  educational  institutions  and  industries/establishments; to bridge the skill gap in the industries by effectively implementing AEDP in partnership with  higher  educational  institutions  and/or  Board  of  Apprenticeship  Training  (BOAT)/ Board of Practical Training (BOPT).

(a) 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 enabling establishments to deploy apprentices at client locations within the country or abroad during the practical training period subject to approval of the apprenticeship adviser concerned. 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.

(b) It  has  been  decided  in  consultation  with  the  Department  of  Higher  Education (DHE)  that  the  DHE  would  continue  to  handle  apprenticeship  programs  for  recent engineering graduates, diploma holders, students in sandwich engineering courses, and general graduates such as those with B.A., B.Com., and B.Sc. degrees. MSDE would be  responsible  for  apprenticeship  programs  for  all  other  categories  of  apprentices.  A clarification about Optional Trades was also issued by MSDE on June 16, 2023.

(d) &(e)   The process flows of the IT platforms of both NAPS and NATS were found to be different, but measures have been initiated to create a common access point for both portals to improve user experience and reduce compliance issues.

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