The Ministry of Skills & Entrepreneurship has made key changes to India’s Apprenticeship Act, leading to a rise in stipend.
As per the amendments, the monthly stipend for apprentices has increased to ₹12,300 from ₹6,800. The revised stipend will apply to apprentices under both the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), among others.
The ministry is also promoting degree apprenticeships and remote or virtual apprenticeship training. Additional changes include the expansion of the scope of regional boards, wider coverage of industries and ensuring inclusivity for persons with benchmark disabilities.
“These landmark changes will strengthen India’s skilling ecosystem, making apprenticeships more attractive, inclusive, and rewarding,” shared a government official.
The ministry has, as part of the changes, introduced “degree apprenticeship,” referring to courses having apprenticeship as an integral component of the curriculum.
It has also been mandated that the workforce of every establishment should comprise 2.5% to 15% of apprentices, including contractual staff. A minimum of 5% has to be reserved for fresher apprentices and skill certificate holder apprentices.
“If the prescribed training places for fresher apprentice and skill certificate holder apprentice cannot be filled, then the training places so lying unfilled may be filled by other categories of apprentices with the approval of the apprenticeship adviser,” the ministry notification stated.
Additionally, the ministry has stated that there needs to be a minimum of one year gap between two apprenticeship trainings, if the previous training is completed. In case the previous apprenticeship is terminated due to failure, then the one-year gap is not applicable.
