Salient Features of NAPS-2: National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2)
Government launched and continues NAPS-2 (since 2022-23) to provide partial stipend support for apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, using DBT and an online portal.
- NAPS-2 promotes apprenticeship training by supporting eligible apprentices with partial stipend help.
- Apprenticeship training happens in the real workplaces of participating establishments.
- Government stipend share is sent directly to the apprentice’s bank account, reducing delay and middle-layer handling.
- Empanelled Third Party Aggregators (TPAs) help mobilise apprentices and establishments, especially MSMEs.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has described the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), now continued as NAPS-2 since 2022-23, as a national programme to promote apprenticeship training and increase apprentice engagement. NAPS-2 provides partial stipend support to apprentices engaged by establishments under the Apprentices Act, 1961, with the Government’s share transferred directly to apprentices’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Background and earlier position: NAPS to NAPS-2
The Government of India launched National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in August 2016 to promote apprenticeship training and increase the engagement of apprentices. Since 2022-23, the scheme continues across the country as NAPS-2.
NAPS-2 can be framed as a case of employment-linked skill policy where stipend support is delivered through DBT and implemented through an online apprenticeship portal. UPSC questions can test whether students understand how such incentive design, monitoring, and outreach events (PMNAM) interact to improve apprenticeship-to-employment outcomes.
