Lok Sabha Question No. 1095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Apprentices Enrolled under NAPS
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1095 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2025

## APPRENTICES ENROLLED UNDER NAPS

1095.  SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

SHRI NAVASKANI K:

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

- (a) the  total  number  of  apprentices  enrolled  under  the  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in the current year;
- (b) the amount of financial assistance provided to both employers and apprentices under the NAPS in the last financial year;
- (c) whether  there  are  any  incentives  or  schemes  to  encourage  small  and  medium-sized enterprises to take part in the said scheme;
- (d) the  measures  taken/being  taken  to  ensure  that  the  apprenticeship  training  provided under NAPS meets the required standards of skill development;
- (e) whether any partnerships with industry bodies or educational institutions to improve the quality of training under the said scheme;
- (f) the  steps  taken/being  taken  to  increase  the participation  of  apprentices  from  rural  and remote areas in the said scheme; and
- (g) the number of apprentices from rural areas benefited from the said scheme in the last financial year?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) and (b) National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) launched in August 2016 and was extended to continue as NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23. Under NAPS-2, the stipend support by Government of  India  (GoI)  is  paid  directly  through  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)  to  the  bank account of apprentices. The total number of engaged apprentices at pan-India level in the FY 2024-25  (till  31.01.2025)  is  8,22,196.  Under  NAPS-2,  during  the  previous  financial  year  FY 2023-24, fund was released towards (i) committed liabilities under the previous version of the scheme towards claim reimbursements submitted by the establishments and (ii) Government share of stipend paid to the apprentices directly to their bank account through DBT.  The details of the fund released during the previous FY 2023-24 is tabulated below:

| Financial Year   | Amount Disbursed    | Amount Disbursed   | Amount Disbursed   |
|------------------|---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|                  | Claim Reimbursement | DBT                | Total              |
| 2023-24          | 258.45              | 335.84             | 594.29             |

- (c)    Under NAPS-2, incentivization under the scheme as Government share of stipend through DBT to apprentices includes those engaged by small and medium sized establishments. The number of small and medium sized establishments that have benefitted under the scheme from FY 2022-23 till FY 2024-25 (upto 31.01.2025) is given below:
- (d)  and (e) Under apprenticeship training, required standards typically include: minimum age requirements, specific educational qualifications based on the trade, physical fitness standards, a  defined  training  curriculum  with  both  theoretical  and  practical  components,  a  contract  of apprenticeship between  the employer and apprentice, stipulated training duration, and adherence to safety regulations within the workplace; all of which are usually governed by the Apprentices  Act,  1961  and  Rules  thereunder  ensuring  quality  training  for  apprentices. The Apprentices Act in the 2014 amendment  empowered  employers to define their own apprenticeship training programs based on specific needs, known as "Optional trades". Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) which are industry-led bodies focus on skill development and also play a key role in  aligning the skill  requirements of the industry with the skills training offered to  the workforce.  These  councils  are  responsible  for  identifying  the  skills  needed  by  the  workforce, setting standards for training and certification. In the current FY 2024-25, around 700 Optional trades of SSCs and establishments have attracted apprentices engagement.
- (f) and (g) The thrust given by the Ministry towards apprenticeship training through reforms (facilitation  and  process  simplifications),  awareness  workshops,  continuous  engagement  with establishments  /  employers,  apprenticeship  Mela,  and  public  outreach  to  create  awareness about apprenticeship training among the students and the establishments are making positive impact. All these efforts encompasses youths from rural and remote areas.  For the previous financial year, against the set target of 11 lakh, 9.32 lakh apprentices have been engaged in the country through the apprenticeship portal. However, details of apprentices from rural areas are not captured on the apprenticeship portal.

| Establishment Category   | Apprentices Engaged   | No. of establishments   |
|--------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
| Medium                   | 6,90,405              | 11,693                  |
| Small                    | 1,78,469              | 10,627                  |

Source: www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in

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