National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) details: apprentices engaged, stipend support and sector coverage
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme support, apprentices’ engagement data, and apprenticeship ecosystem expansion under the Apprentices Act, 1961
- The Government of India launched the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme in August 2016 to promote apprenticeship training and increase apprentice engagement.
- The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme has continued as NAPS-2 since 2022-23 and has been implemented across the country.
- The scheme provides partial stipend support to apprentices through Direct Benefit Transfer during the training period.
- The release states that engagement of apprentices after training is not obligatory for employers under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has reported fresh data on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, a central apprenticeship-support programme that aims to expand industry-linked training and improve employability. The update is relevant because it connects a statutory labour-training framework, stipend support through Direct Benefit Transfer, and sector-wise apprenticeship expansion across the country.
What the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme does
The Government of India launched the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme in August 2016. Since 2022-23, the scheme has continued as NAPS-2 and has been implemented across the country, including Andhra Pradesh.
UPSC may frame the issue around the design of apprenticeship policy, the role of the Apprentices Act, 1961, the linkage between classroom learning and on-the-job training, and the use of Direct Benefit Transfer to support apprentice stipends. A mains question may also ask how apprenticeship can improve employability in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and sector-specific industry needs.
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