The Government of India launched ‘National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme’ (NAPS) in August, 2016 with the objective to promote apprenticeship training and to increase the engagement of apprentices. Since 2022-23, the scheme continues as NAPS-2 and implemented throughout the country, including Andhra Pradesh. Details of apprentices engaged under NAPS during the last five years and the current year State/UT-wise and year-wise including Andhra Pradesh is at Table-I of Annexure.

The scheme promotes apprenticeship training in the country, by providing partial stipend support to the apprentices engaged under the Apprentice Act, 1961, undertaking capacity building of the apprenticeship ecosystem, and providing advocacy assistance to the stakeholders. The partial stipend support limited to 25% of stipend paid, up to a maximum of Rs.1,500 per month, per apprentice during the training period is paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the bank account of apprentice. The scheme encourages enrolment of apprentices in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The number of MSMEs and other establishments that have engaged apprentices under NAPS during the last five years and the current year (Upto 3^0th June 2026) throughout the country includingAndhra Pradesh is given as under:

* The PAN India DBT roll out started from July 2023. Hence fund data is from FY 2023-24 to 2026-27 (upto 30^th June, 2026)

Under apprenticeship training, as per the provision of the Apprentices Act, 1961, it is not obligatory on the part of the employer to hire apprentices on completion of the training. The On-the-Job Training (OJT) provided during apprenticeship helps apprentices become industry-ready, giving employers a pool of trained candidates to choose from as per organisational needs.

Apprenticeship training under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is implemented across a wide range of sectors and trades notified under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Apprenticeship training is broadly classified as Designated trades and Optional Trades.  During the period from 2022-23 to 2026-27 (up to 30.06.2026), a total of 47,50,432 apprentices have been engaged under NAPS across more than 45 sectors. Major sectors include Automotive, IT-ITeS, Electronics, Retail, Production & Manufacturing, Logistics, Telecom, Food Processing, Agriculture, Apparel, Construction, Healthcare, Life Sciences and Tourism & Hospitality. The sector-wise distribution of apprentices engaged under NAPS is placed at Table-II of Annexure.

Further, trades relevant to the coastal economy are covered under NAPS through various sectors such as Agriculture, Food Processing, Logistics and Marine. These include trades such as Aquaculture Worker, Fish and Seafood Processing Technician, Fish and Seafood Junior Processor, Pipe Fitter (Marine), Rigger (Marine), Shipwright (Steel), Shipwright (Wood), Crane Operator-Port Terminals/Container Freight Station (CFS) /Inland Container Depot(ICD), Junior Cargo Operator-Port Terminals/CFS/ICD, Port Terminals/CFS/ICD Supervisor, Bulk Cargo Inspector, International Freight Forwarding Executive, Cold Chain Specialist, Warehouse Operations and other logistics-related trades. Apprenticeship opportunities in these trades are available based on industry demand and participation by establishments engaged in the respective sectors.

The Apprentices Act, 1961 provides a framework for establishments to utilize their training infrastructure and workplace facilities for imparting apprenticeship training. Under the Act, establishments employing four or more workers are eligible to engage apprentices, while engagement of apprentices is mandatory for establishments having thirty or more workers, subject to the provisions of the Act.

To promote apprenticeship opportunities and expand outreach, the Government has been organizing Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) across the country since June 2022. States/UTs, including Andhra Pradesh, have been advised to conduct PMNAMs regularly with flexibility in the selection of districts, venues and schedules based on local requirements and administrative considerations. Apprenticeship opportunities under NAPS are available across districts, including Kakinada, through participating establishments. In addition, awareness generation, candidate mobilization and employer outreach activities are undertaken periodically to encourage greater participation of youth and establishments in apprenticeship training.

ANNEXURE

Table I: Details of apprentices engaged under NAPS during the last five years and the current year State/UT-wise and year-wise including Andhra Pradesh is as under :

Table II: The sector-wise engagement of apprentices under NAPS from FY 2021-22 till FY 2026-27 (upto30.06.2026) are given in the table below:

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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SH