Government notifies National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

BJP-led NDA government has notified the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme that would offer financial incentives to employers.

The government has earmarked an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore to provide apprenticeship training to 50 lakh apprentices by 2019-20.

Under the scheme, 25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be reimbursed to the employers directly by the government of India, an official statement said.

The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal trade training (fresher apprentices).
Eligible employers shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment.

Apprenticeship training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training.

The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India.

The policy proposes to work pro-actively with the industry including MSME to facilitate tenfold increase opportunities in the country by 2020.

Brand ambassadors will be appointed for states and for local industrial clusters to act as facilitators and promoters to promote apprenticeship training.