Lok Sabha Question No. 5945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Promotion of Dual System of Training
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5945

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## PROMOTION OF DUAL SYSTEM OF TRAINING

## † 5945. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:

SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) the current progress of digitization of curriculum and examination processes in all Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in Maharashtra;
- (b) the manner in which the Government is promoting the Dual System of Training (DST) model to familiarize ITI students with the industry;
- (c) whether there is any proposal initiated by the Government to include new sector under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) for degree apprenticeship; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to simplify the administrative process for engaging apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a).      Directorate  General  of  Training  (DGT),  under  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through a nationwide network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), offering in 169 NSQF Compliant courses, catering to the youth of the country including Maharashtra. A wide range of digital learning resources including e-content, e-books, videos, and other materials is made available to trainees through the Bharat Skills portal and the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform.

The theory examinations under the All India Trade Test (AITT) for CTS are conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode to objectively assess the knowledge and competencies of ITI trainees. The complete examination lifecycle such as scheduling, hall ticket generation, evaluation, result declaration, and issuance of e-marksheets and e-certificates is seamlessly managed through the SIDH Portal.

For  practical  examinations,  the  State  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  Committee (SSDEC) and the respective State/UT Directorates are empowered to prepare question papers and  conduct  assessments  within  ITIs.  Practical  exams  are  video-recorded,  and  marks  are submitted online to ensure transparency and standardisation.

- (b). The Dual System of Training (DST) is being actively promoted across Industrial Training Institutes  (ITIs)  to  enhance  industry  exposure,  practical  learning,  and  employability of  trainees. Under this model, institutional training is integrated with structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) in industry, and all trades under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) are being offered in DST mode. To further strengthen industry -institute  collaboration,  DGT has undertaken the following initiatives:
- i.  All new affiliations granted in the third shift of ITIs are permitted exclusively in DST mode, encouraging wider adoption of the model and stronger linkages with industry.
- ii.  Weightage has been assigned in the Data-Driven Grading mechanism for enrolment under DST, incentivizing ITIs to increase the proportion of trainees opting for the DST model.

(c). National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) aims at providing on-the-job training and skilling of Indian youth, under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and its subsequent amendments. It is implemented by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education through four regional Boards of Apprenticeship Training/Practical Training (BoATs/BoPT) located at Mumbai, Kanpur, Chennai and Kolkata.

To  meet  the  rising  demand  for  AI  talent,  the  Ministry  of  Education  has  launched  the  AI Apprenticeship  Programme  under  NATS. This  initiative  offers  structured  on-the-job  training  for graduates  and  diploma  holders  seeking  to  develop  expertise  in  various  areas  such  as  Data Science,  Machine  Learning,  Application  Development,  Prompt  Engineering,  and  more.  The programme  involves  establishments  that  are  either  developing  core  AI/ML  technologies  and applications to tackle specific challenges or those leveraging AI to solve sector-specific problems in fields like Agriculture, Healthcare, and Logistics. These establishments provide AI Apprenticeship training  to  graduates,  diploma  holders,  and  students  enrolled  in  the Apprenticeship  Embedded Degree/Diploma Program (AEDP). In the financial year 2025-26, a total of 74,486 apprentices participated in the AI Apprenticeship Programme.

The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme (AEDP) is an academic initiative that allows students enrolled in undergraduate programmes to undertake apprenticeship training as an integral part of their degree or diploma, in accordance with AICTE and UGC guidelines for AEDP implementation, issued in July 2025. Over 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and universities,  with  more  than  14,000 students currently enrolled in the AEDP.

- (d). National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  aims  to  promote  apprenticeship training  across  the  country.  Initially,  launched  in  August  2016,  the  scheme  is  presently  being implemented  in  its  second  phase  (NAPS-2).  Under  NAPS-2,  the  Government  provides  partial stipend support of up to 25% of the minimum prescribed stipend, subject to a ceiling of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month. The stipend is transferred directly to apprentices through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

As per the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the relevant Rules, establishments including MSMEs are required to undertake certain administrative activities for engaging apprentices. These include:

- (i) registration on the apprenticeship portal,
- (ii) selection of suitable apprenticeship courses,
- (iii) mobilization and selection of candidates,
- (iv) issuance of apprenticeship contracts through the portal,
- (v) provision of basic and on-the-job training,
- (vi) processing of stipend payments
- (vii) uploading attendance and assessment details, and
- (viii)  uploading syllabus for Optional Trades, where applicable.

To ease the above administrative burden, the Ministry has empanelled Third Party Aggregators (TPAs). Establishments, including MSMEs, may avail their services for smoother implementation of apprenticeship training.

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