The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship provided an update on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2), revealing that the government has disbursed a total of ₹1,573.46 crore in stipend support across India from 2023-24 to 2026-27 through Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism. The scheme provides 25% of stipend paid by establishments, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per month per apprentice, directly credited to apprentices' bank accounts.
Maharashtra received the highest allocation at ₹361.24 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh (₹227.75 crore), Tamil Nadu (₹181.44 crore), Karnataka (₹98.78 crore), and Gujarat (₹80.49 crore). The annual disbursements show consistent growth: ₹327.17 crore in 2023-24, ₹500.15 crore in 2024-25, ₹567.27 crore in 2025-26, and ₹178.87 crore in 2026-27 (partial year).
The scheme has significantly increased women's participation, rising from 7.74% in FY 2016-17 to 24.95% in FY 2025-26. Apprenticeship training is conducted in actual work environments with industry exposure across diverse sectors including manufacturing, engineering, logistics, agriculture, food processing, retail, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, IT-ITeS, and electronics.
Key initiatives include the establishment of 36 Sector Skill Councils led by industry leaders, partnerships with technology companies (IBM, CISCO, Microsoft, AWS), and the introduction of new-age courses in 5G Network Technician, Artificial Intelligence Programming Assistant, Cyber Security Assistant, and Drone Technician. The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme, developed with UGC and AICTE, integrates apprenticeship training into degree and diploma curricula.
Apprentices are covered under workplace safety provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, Mines Act, 1952, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. Working hours are regulated under Section 15 of the Apprentices Act, 1961, with restrictions for apprentices below 18 years (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM).
The scheme is implemented through the National Apprenticeship Portal, Regional Directorates of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, State Apprenticeship Advisers, and Third Party Aggregators, with monthly Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas organized in one-third of districts across each state.