The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) convened a National Review of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 28, 2026, with the objective of strengthening apprenticeship engagement across public sector enterprises and positioning apprenticeship as a mainstream pathway from learning to livelihoods.
The review emphasized repositioning apprenticeship as a credible and aspirational pathway that combines theoretical learning with practical workplace experience, rather than a fallback option. Secretary Debashree Mukherjee stressed the need to shift focus from scale alone to tangible outcomes, stating that success should be measured through completion rates, certification, employability, absorption, and retention of apprentices. She called upon CPSEs to play a catalytic role by expanding quality opportunities, improving participation of women and under-represented groups, and creating stronger pathways to productive employment.
Significant scale has been achieved under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2), with 44.75 lakh apprentices engaged from FY 2022-23 to 22 September 2026, supported by 47,452 active establishments. Optional Trades accounted for 76.27% of apprenticeship engagement, reflecting the increasing importance of flexible, employer-responsive apprenticeship pathways.
CPSEs were specifically directed to address the gap between apprenticeship potential and actual engagement by developing realistic enterprise-wise intake plans aligned with the applicable 2.5%–15% apprenticeship requirement. Enterprises were instructed to validate their workforce and portal data, establish time-bound recruitment trajectories, and nominate senior-level nodal officers to monitor implementation and resolve bottlenecks. The review reinforced the collective responsibility of CPSEs, States, and other stakeholders to strengthen apprenticeship as an integral component of India's skilling and employment ecosystem.