The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved stipendiary support of Rs 3,054 crore to apprentices who undergo apprenticeship training under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) of the ministry of education till 2025-26.

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme

• The Apprentices Act, 1961 was enacted with the objective of regulating the programme of training of apprentices in the industry by utilising the facilities available therein for imparting on-the-job training. 

• The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) is a well-established scheme of the Union government which has demonstrated to enhance the employability of students who have successfully completed the apprenticeship training.

• It is a one year programme equipping technically qualified youth with practical knowledge and skills required in their field of work. 

• The apprentices are placed for training at central, state and private organisations which have excellent training facilities. 

• The apprentices are imparted training by the organisations at their place of work. Trained managers with well developed training modules ensure that apprentices learn the job quickly and competently. 

• The apprentices are paid a stipend amount, 50 per cent of which is reimbursable to the employer from the government. 

• At the end of the training period, the apprentices are issued a certificate of proficiency by the government of India which can be registered at all employment exchanges across India as valid employment experience. 

Increased expenditure on apprenticeship

• The government has approved an expenditure of more than Rs 3,000 crore during the next five years which is about 4.5 times the expenditure made during the previous five years. This increased expenditure on apprenticeship is in line with the thrust which National Education Policy, 2020 has given to apprenticeship.

• Approximately nine lakh apprentices will be trained by industry and commercial organisations.

• The apprentices who have completed graduate and diploma programme in engineering, humanities, science and commerce will be given stipend of Rs 9,000 and Rs 8,000 per month respectively.

• The scope of NATS has further been expanded to include students from humanities, science and commerce besides students from engineering stream. 

• This scheme aims to raise the standards of skill level by strengthening the skill ecosystem and as a result, will provide employment to approximately seven lakh youths in the next five years.

• The NATS will provide apprenticeship in the emerging areas under ‘Production Linked Incentive’ (PLI) such as mobile manufacturing, medical devices manufacturing, pharma sector, electronics and technology products, automobile sector.

• The scheme will also be preparing skilled manpower for connectivity and logistics industry sectors, identified under GatiShakti. 

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