National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Education and Skill Development Schemes · Topic 5.6
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), now called the Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, launched on 19 August 2016 under the Apprentices Act, 1961, to encourage employers to engage apprentices. The Centre shares the cost by reimbursing 25 per cent of the prescribed stipend, up to Rs 1,500 per apprentice a month, and part of the basic training cost for freshers. The first phase aimed at 50 lakh apprentices by 2020. NAPS-2 now runs inside the composite Skill India Programme, approved with Rs 8,800 crore for 2022-26 in 2025.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Education and Skill Development Schemes
At a Glance
- Ministry Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- Launched 19 August 2016
- Law Apprentices Act, 1961
- Support 25% of stipend, up to Rs 1,500
- First target 50 lakh by 2020
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Education and Skill Development Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This is the sixth topic of the macro on education and skill development. It is the on-the-job training arm that complements the classroom based scheme described in the previous topic. Previous topic: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Next topic: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
How Does NAPS Support Apprenticeship?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, abbreviated NAPS, renamed PM-NAPS |
| Legal base | Apprentices Act, 1961, amended in 2014 and 2015, with Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 |
| Launch | 19 August 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme |
| Stipend support | The Centre reimburses 25 per cent of the prescribed stipend, subject to a maximum of Rs 1,500 per apprentice per month, to every employer |
| Basic training support | Up to Rs 7,500 per apprentice for a maximum of 500 hours of basic training for fresher apprentices with no prior experience |
| Who can be an apprentice | A person above 14 years who meets the education and physical standards for the trade, with different rules for hazardous industries |
| Employers | Establishments with 30 or more employees must engage apprentices, in the range of 2.5 per cent to 15 per cent of the workforce, under the Act |
Who Runs the Scheme and How Is It Different From NATS?
- Directorate General of Training: the Directorate General of Training in the Ministry runs NAPS through its Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training
- Apprenticeship portal: employers and apprentices register on the Apprenticeship India portal, and contracts are signed online
- Types of apprenticeship: trade apprentices, who hold ITI qualifications or school pass certificates, and optional trade apprentices, which cover 8th to 12th pass youth
- Duration: training periods range from 6 months to 3 years depending on the trade, with a Certificate of Proficiency at the end
- Stipend: the employer pays the stipend, which must be at least the minimum as per the Act and is shared by the Centre
- NATS: the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme of the Ministry of Education covers graduate, technician and diploma apprentices, with a separate approval of about Rs 3,054 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26
- Skill India link: the scheme is one arm of the umbrella mission, as in Skill India Mission
- Training link: apprenticeship is the follow-up step after classroom training in Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
What Else Should You Remember?
- Rationale: India has had very few apprentices compared with Germany and Japan, and employers saw the old law as full of inspections and penalties
- Reform: the 2014 and 2015 amendments to the Act made it easier to hire apprentices, removed jail terms for minor violations and added self-certification
- Original target: the Cabinet approved NAPS in 2016 with Rs 10,000 crore for 2016 to 2020 and a target of 50 lakh apprentices by 2020, which was not met
- Progress: official summaries report that over 54 lakh apprentices were engaged under NAPS from 2016 to March 2026, and about 47.5 lakh from 2022-23 to mid 2026, and these two counts cover different periods
- NAPS-2: NAPS-2 was approved as part of the Skill India Programme with about Rs 1,942 crore for 2022-26, as reported, and some sources give slightly different figures
- Direct Benefit Transfer: stipend support is paid by direct benefit transfer into the employer’s account, introduced to speed up payment
- North-east: a special intervention under PM-NAPS for the north-eastern region was extended for 2026-27, as reported, with a target of 30,000 apprentices
- Criticism: many establishments do not meet the quota, large employers dominate, and quality and stipend levels vary across firms
- Unemployment link: apprenticeship is seen as a pathway to jobs, since a share of apprentices are retained by their employers
- Labour codes: rules for workers and training are being aligned with the new labour codes, and the details should be checked in current notifications
- Status: the Skill India Programme approval ended in March 2026, so the continuation should be checked in official releases
- Link to jobs: the broader goal is to raise employability, and schemes for youth jobs include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Law: Apprentices Act, 1961
- Launch: 19 August 2016
- Support: 25 per cent of stipend up to Rs 1,500 and up to Rs 7,500 for basic training
- Agency: Directorate General of Training under MSDE
- Traps: NATS belongs to the Ministry of Education and covers graduates and diploma holders
As an analytical point, apprenticeship links learning with earning and is the main route to jobs in countries with strong vocational systems. India needs more employers to join, better quality of training and apprenticeship in services as well as manufacturing.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Act, support, agency
- Policy On-the-job training
- Mains Employer participation
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the scheme for the girl child that links with education. Next topic: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Key People and Terms
- NAPS Apprenticeship promotion
- NATS Graduate apprentice scheme
- DGT Directorate General of Training
- RDAT Regional apprenticeship office
- ITI Industrial Training Institute
- CoP Certificate of proficiency
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Launched: 19 August 2016.
- Act: 1961.
- Stipend share: 25%, up to Rs 1,500.
- Basic training: Rs 7,500.
- NATS: Education Ministry.
Do Not Confuse With
- NAPS and NATS Skill Ministry scheme for trade apprentices versus Education Ministry scheme for graduates
- NAPS and PMKVY Apprenticeship with stipend versus classroom training
- Apprentice and trainee Legal contract under the Act versus informal training
Memory Hook
Learn on the job, the Centre pays a quarter of the stipend.
Mains Angle
Questions ask why apprenticeship is weak in India. These points give a frame.
- Value Learning with earning
- Gaps Employer participation
- Way Ease rules and widen sectors
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the role of apprenticeship in India’s skilling strategy and the factors that limit its growth.”
How to Answer
- Intro State the Act and the scheme.
- Role Job readiness, stipend, retention.
- Limits Few employers, quality, regulation.
- Way Incentives, services sector, digital tools.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme?
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 19 August 2016 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It supports employers who engage apprentices by sharing stipend and basic training costs, and is now called PM-NAPS.
How much support does NAPS give to employers?
The Centre reimburses 25 per cent of the prescribed stipend, up to Rs 1,500 per apprentice per month. For fresher apprentices without prior experience, it also gives up to Rs 7,500 per apprentice for a maximum of 500 hours of basic training, which is paid to training providers.
Who is eligible to be an apprentice under NAPS?
A person above 14 years who meets the educational and physical standards of the trade can be an apprentice. Trade apprentices include ITI holders and school pass students, and registration is on the Apprenticeship India portal, where the employer and apprentice sign an online contract.
What is the difference between NAPS and NATS?
NAPS is run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for trade apprentices and covers a share of stipend. The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is run by the Ministry of Education for graduate, technician and diploma holders, and is approved separately with its own funding.
What is the latest status of NAPS?
NAPS-2 now operates within the composite Skill India Programme, approved in February 2025 for 2022-23 to 2025-26. Official summaries report over 54 lakh apprentices engaged since 2016, as of March 2026, and the continuation from April 2026 should be checked in current releases.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 NAPS operates under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
The Act was amended in 2014 and 2015.
2 NAPS reimburses the full stipend of apprentices.
It reimburses 25 per cent, up to Rs 1,500.
3 NATS is run by the Ministry of Education.
It covers graduate and diploma apprentices.
4 NAPS was launched on 19 August 2016.
As a Central Sector Scheme.
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