National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
NAPS, launched in August 2016, is a scheme to promote apprenticeship training in India by sharing the cost of stipend between the government and the employer. Under NAPS-2, the government bears 25% of the prescribed stipend (up to ₹1,500 per apprentice per month). It bridges the gap between institutional skill training and actual workplace experience — a critical missing link in India's vocational ecosystem. The scheme targets MSME engagement, aspirational districts, and the Northeast region, and is administered under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
- Launch: August 2016; current iteration NAPS-2 under revised 2023 guidelines
- Government share: 25% of minimum prescribed stipend, capped at ₹1,500/month
- Total apprentices engaged since 2016: 54.41 lakh (as of 2026)
- FY 2025-26 target: 13 lakh apprentices under NAPS-2
- FY 2025-26 enrolment: 12.35 lakh apprentices
- Proposed stipend hike: 36% increase (₹5,000-9,000 to ₹6,800-12,300), linked to Consumer Price Index
- Governed under: Apprentices Act, 1961 (amended multiple times, most recently 2014)
● Tracked since March 11, 2026 · last seen May 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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