National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2)

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. The scheme bridges the gap between formal education and real-world industrial employment by incentivizing employers to engage young talent as paid apprentices, while providing direct monthly stipend subsidies directly to the apprentices' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Under NAPS, candidates with diverse educational backgrounds (ranging from 10th/12th pass to ITI holders, polytechnic diploma holders, and general or technical graduates) can register on the national Apprenticeship Portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in). Apprentices undergo intensive on-the-job training (OJT) in leading private, public, and multinational companies. The Central Government directly deposits 25% of the prescribed stipend (up to a maximum of ₹1,500 per month) directly into the candidate's bank account via DBT, and the remaining 75%+ is paid by the employer.

Detailed benefits under NAPS include: 1. Dual-Income Stipend Structure: Apprentices receive their monthly stipend punctually — a direct DBT subsidy of up to ₹1,500/month from the government plus the company's stipend share (e.g. ₹8,000 to ₹12,000). 2. Industry Work Experience: Unlike textbook classroom coaching, apprentices gain 6 months to 2 years of practical experience operating modern industrial machinery, production lines, or enterprise software. 3. High Full-Time Employment Conversion: Over 60% of apprentices are directly absorbed into permanent or contractual roles by the training company upon successful completion of their contract. 4. Official National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC): Recognized as equivalent to technical work experience for government and PSU job recruitments (e.g. Indian Railways, DRDO, ISRO, BHEL, IOCL, ONGC). 5. No Tuition or Training Cost: Candidates pay zero fees for training or placement.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship under NAPS: • Minimum Age: Must have completed at least 14 years of age (18 years for designated hazardous industries). • Educational Qualification: Must possess at least Class 5th/8th/10th/12th pass certificate, ITI National Trade Certificate (NTC), Polytechnic Diploma, or Degree (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, B.Tech, BBA, BCA, etc.). • Contract Requirement: Candidate must enter into an official Apprenticeship Contract with a registered establishment on the portal. • Single Apprenticeship Rule: A candidate cannot undergo an apprenticeship in the same trade/job role more than once.

Keep digital scans ready for candidate registration: 1. Aadhaar Card (mandatory for eKYC). 2. Highest Educational Marksheet / ITI Trade Certificate / Degree Certificate. 3. Bank Account Passbook copy (must be Aadhaar-seeded for DBT stipend payouts). 4. Passport-sized Photograph and signature image.

• Aadhaar Card (linked with mobile number for eKYC)
• Educational Qualification Marksheet (Class 10th / 12th / ITI / Diploma / Degree)
• Active Savings Bank Account Passbook (Aadhaar-seeded for DBT stipend)
• Passport-size Photograph & Signature Scan
• Caste / PwD Certificate (if applicable)

Applying for NAPS apprenticeships is done in 5 simple steps on the official portal: Step 1 — Candidate Registration: Visit apprenticeshipindia.gov.in, click 'Register' -> 'Candidate', enter your mobile number and email, and verify with OTP. Step 2 — Profile Completion & eKYC: Log in, complete your Aadhaar eKYC, enter your educational qualifications, and upload your marksheet and bank passbook. Step 3 — Search Apprenticeship Opportunities: Go to the 'Apprenticeship Opportunities' tab, filter by your preferred trade (e.g. Electrician, Fitter, Welder, Data Entry, Accounts, Quality Control), location, or company name. Step 4 — Apply Online: Click 'Apply' on desired company vacancies. Companies review your profile and issue digital Contract Offers on the portal. Step 5 — Contract Signing & Start Training: Accept the contract digitally. Join the company, attend on-the-job training, receive monthly DBT stipends, and earn your National Apprenticeship Certificate.

Apprenticeship vacancies are posted continuously by thousands of companies 365 days a year. Candidates can register and apply at any time.

• Not completing Aadhaar eKYC and bank authentication on the portal (stipend DBT payments will fail if the bank account is not mapped on the NPCI mapper). • Joining an informal traineeship without signing an official digital Apprenticeship Contract on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (informal traineeships do not receive government stipend subsidies or NAC certificates). • Leaving the apprenticeship midway without formal contract termination (incomplete contracts forfeit the NAC certificate eligibility).

Keep your profile 100% complete on the portal with accurate ITI/Diploma marks and resume keywords. Apply to multiple verified establishments in your district to secure fast contract offers.