PM National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS): Stipend Support and Rules
Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor
The Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), launched in August 2016 in place of the Apprenticeship Protsahan Yojana, encourages employers to take apprentices by sharing part of the stipend. Apprenticeship is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961.
In one line: the Government pays a quarter of an apprentice's stipend, so firms train more young people on the job.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launched | August 2016 |
| Law | Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Stipend support | 25% of the prescribed stipend, up to ₹1,500 a month |
| Payment | DBT to apprentices via NSDC (since July 2022) |
| Employer band | Apprentices equal to 2.5% to 10% of the workforce |
| Age | 14+ (18+ in hazardous trades); up to 35 for stipend support |
Key rules
- Basic training cost shared up to ₹7,500 for freshers.
- Apprentice categories: trade, graduate, technician, technician (vocational) and optional trades.
- Establishments with 4 to 29 workers may engage apprentices voluntarily; those with 3 or fewer cannot.
- No stipend support to Government bodies and public sector units.
Possible exam questions
- Why are apprenticeships under-used in India compared with countries like Germany?
- How can MSMEs be encouraged to take on apprentices?
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