National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

Apprenticeship training is considered one of the most coherent ways to develop skilled manpower in the country. The scheme provides for a formal mode of training that is effective, efficient, industry-led, and practice-oriented.

The objective of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is to promote apprenticeship training in the country and provide financial assistance to establishments for undertaking apprenticeship programs.

The scheme covers all types of apprentices except Graduate, Technician, and Technician (Vocational) apprentices, which are covered by the scheme administered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Components of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

• To share with the employers who appoint apprentices 25% of the prescribed stipend but subject to a maximum of Rs.1500 per month per apprentice. The same will not be available in the basic training period of the apprentices.
• The basic training cost with respect to the apprentices who come directly to the apprenticeship training without any formal training to be shared. The cost will be reimbursed by the Government to the Basic Training Providers up to Rs.7500 for a maximum of 500 hours/3 months.

Key Features of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

• More options for the apprentices – The apprentices will have more options as the integration with other schemes under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), or Modular Employable Skill (MES) will be linked to the apprenticeship training.
• Ease of administering through technology – The Apprenticeship training will be administered through an online portal. The same will address the requirements of all stakeholders. 
  • For Industry:
    • Online registration, submission of returns, records, submission of claims, payment of Government share.
    • Declare apprenticeship seats/ vacancies.
    • Find candidates for specific sectors.
    • Issue offer letters for engaging apprentices to candidates.
    • Provide a contract of apprenticeship online for approval by respective Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training (RDAT)/State Apprenticeship Advisor.
    • Evaluation of apprenticeship training.
  • For Candidates:
    • Online registration mentioning the sector/trades of choice.
    • Sending applications to potential employers.
    • Online receipt and acceptance of offer letters.
    • All necessary contractual obligations can be processed online.
    • Find the Basic Training Provider (BTP) specific to the sector, trade, and region.

There are numerous benefits for the Basic Training Providers and the Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training/State Apprenticeship Advisers.

Portal will also facilitate time-bound approval of contract of apprenticeship, online verification of candidate profile, management of online examination for generation, centralised database for monitoring and compliance, and issue of hall tickets.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme for different categories are as follows:

For Employers

• Is any entity or person who has business in any trade or occupation
• It shall employ apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of organisation
• Must be registered with EPFO/ESIC/MSME
• Must register on the apprenticeship portal
• Must have an Aadhaar linked bank account

For Apprentice

• A person who has entered into a apprenticeship contract with the employer for apprenticeship training
• They can be engaged from the categories -trainees who have Passed from ITI courses/dual learning mode from ITIs/completed PMKVY/MES courses/minimum educational qualification required for trade and have not undergone any formal trade training
• Completed 14 years of age and fulfils other requirements of the Apprentices Act 1961
• Must register on the portal
• Must have an Aadhar number
• Must meet the requirements prescribed for the trade like minimum age, educational and physical qualification prescribed for trade
• The higher limit for fresher apprentices shall be 21 years. The number of apprentices must be 20% of the target in a year

For Basic Training Providers

• It is an entity that facilitates imparting of basic training to apprentices
• Must be registered in the apprenticeship portal
• Must have an aadhar linked bank account

Basic Training Partners (BTP)

Types of BTP:

• Private and Government Private Industrial Training Institutes (ITI)
• Industries or establishments with in-house basic training facilities
• BTP set up or supported by industry clusters

Selection of BTP:

• Government or Private ITI will be selected automatically as BTP, provided they have spare seats for running basic training
• BTP should apply through the portal for registration
• RDAT shall review the application submitted by BTP
• Submitting of Inspection report online by a committee
• Evaluating of inspection report and approval of BTP by the RDAT
• Online selection and offer to BTP by the RDAT

Fields of Apprenticeship Training

Training can be provided in designated or optional trade.

Designated Trade – Designated trade means any occupation or trade as notified by the Government. Currently, there are 259 designated trades that are available for apprenticeship training.

Optional Trade – Optional trade means any occupation or trade or any subject field in non-engineering or engineering or any vocational course or technology as determined by the employer. The optional trade is categorised as follows:

• PMKVY/MES – Courses under this are a duration of 20-25% of the total period of apprenticeship training as basic training, and the remaining duration will be practical content for an on-the-job component designed by SSC/NCVT will be declared as optional trades.
• Created by the employer – For a  trade decided by the employer with a duration of 20-25% of the total period of apprenticeship training as basic training and the remaining duration will be practical content for the on-the-job component, designed by the employer and uploaded in the apprenticeship portal.

Duration of Apprenticeship Training

Apprenticeship Training comprises Basic Training and On-the-Job-Training/Practical Training at the workplace. For getting financial benefits for different routes duration of the training will be as follows:

Routes of training	Duration of Basic Training	Duration of Practical Training/On-the-job-Training	Duration of Practical Training/On-the-job-Training
	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
ITIs pass-outs	Not required	1 year	2 years
PMKVY/SDI	–	1 year	2 years
Dual-learning mode from ITIs	–	5 to 9 months	5 to 9 months
Fresher apprentices	3 months	1 year	2 years

Sharing of Basic Training Cost to BTP

The payment for basic training will be Rs.7500/- per apprentice for 500 hours or 3 months.

RDATs or States will pay the cost of basic training to BTP’s through their bank account. Rs. 5000 per apprentice will be paid for basic training on completion of basic training and the remaining basic training cost of Rs. 2500 per apprentice will be paid after completing the apprenticeship training by the apprentice.