Lok Sabha Question No. 213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Apprentices Engaged under NAPS
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO. 213

ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025

## APPRENTICES ENGAGED UNDER NAPS

213.  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE: SMT.BHARTI PARDHI :

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

- (a) the number of apprentices engaged in various sectors under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) at present;
- (b) the target set for the next financial year along with the strategy devised to achieve it especially in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) the manner in which the Government is promoting more Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and small enterprises to include apprentices under NAPS to benefit both the parties;
- (d) whether any special incentive or simplified process is available for them; 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) & (b) The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), implemented by the Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship,  Government  of  India,  is  a  flagship initiative aimed at promoting apprenticeship training across 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. As of now,  a  total  of  8.52  lakh  apprentices  are  undergoing  training  under  the  scheme  across various  sectors  throughout  India.  The  scheme  is  one  of  the  three  key  components  of  the composite Central Sector Scheme of 'Skill India Programme'.

(c) Under the scheme, from FY 2018 -19 to FY 2025 -26 (as on 30th June 2025), a total of 16,91,618  apprentices  accounting  for  41.45%  of  overall  engagements  have  been  onboarded  by  Micro,  Small,  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs).  This  demonstrates  the substantial and growing participation of MSMEs under the scheme.

(d) & (e) The  Ministry  is  committed  to  enhancing  apprenticeship  engagement  within Micro,  Small,  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs)  and  industrial  clusters.  To  support  this objective, the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela, held on the second Monday of every month in 1/3 rd  of the districts of each State/U.T., serves as a vital platform for all types of establishments -including MSMEs -to onboard apprentices. Given that MSMEs are often geographically  concentrated  in  clusters,  they  fall  under  the  jurisdiction  of  respective  State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961. Accordingly, States have been requested to actively promote awareness about apprenticeship opportunities within MSMEs and clusters under their purview. To facilitate this effort, a list of 106 clusters covered under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP) of the Ministry of MSME -each having an operational Cluster Facilitation Centre (CFC) - has been shared with the States for targeted outreach and engagement.

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