Key Highlights

• Indian government proposes 30 percent hike in apprentice stipends under NAPS and NATS, raising range to Rs. 6,800–Rs. 12,300.
• Over 4.3 million apprentices benefit as stipend revision aims to reduce dropout rates and attract diverse talent.
• Central Apprenticeship Council aligns stipend hike with CPI and salary revisions; recommendation to be sent to Cabinet.

The Indian government has announced a revised stipend for apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) with a 30 percent hike in apprentice stipends. The original stipend range of Rs. 5,000-Rs. 9,000 will be revised to Rs. 6,800-Rs. 12,300 to lower dropout rates and encourage candidates from various industries.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council on Monday to revise the stipends rates based on consumer price index (CPI) changes and to better align apprentice stipends with salary revisions for all other employees in July. The recommendation will be sent to the Cabinet for approval.

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Under NAPS, companies with 30 or more employees must also engage every apprentice with a daily stipend that varies from 2.5 percent to 15 percent of the total strength of their workforce including contract employees. The stipulation is enforceable under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and is applicable to all types of establishments.

More than 4.3 million apprentices have participated in NAPS across 36 states and union territories with participation from over 51,000 establishments. Female participation in the scheme was at 20 percent in May, and NAPS is being actively promoted to further increase this participation. In FY25, NATS alone has enrollled over 0.5 million apprentices.

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“Apprenticeship is not just a skilling mechanism, it is a bridge that connects education, industry, and employment, especially for our rural youth. With NAPS and NATS as pillars supported by a strong legal framework, we are actively reforming the system to make it more inclusive, responsive, and aspirational,” said Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).