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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
New apprenticeship policy to link degrees, raise stipends
Representative image NEW DELHI: Centre has proposed comprehensive reforms to revitalise the apprenticeship ecosystem. Key measures include an inflation-linked hike in stipend rates, from the current Rs 5,000-9,000 to Rs 6,800-12,300, to reduce dropout rates and attract diverse talent. The reforms also formalise Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP), enabling apprentices to earn recognised degrees alongside practical training. Additionally, the policy aims to enable global deployment of apprentices at overseas client sites and expand training delivery through digital and virtual platforms. These proposals come amid persistent structural challenges within the apprenticeship framework. An official from ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) said, "The proposed stipend increase is essential to curb dropouts and make apprenticeships viable, especially in sectors like technology, manufacturing, and services where living and commuting costs can be prohibitive." A 2022 parliamentary standing committee report recommended convergence through a unified operational and digital infrastructure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No dark spots, 10 years younger! Just take this from Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo Industry participation, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), remains limited due to administrative complexity, compliance burdens, and lack of awareness. Regional disparities persist, with only 1.2% of apprentices from the North-East despite targeted benefits. Female participation, while improving, continues to lag behind overall workforce levels. Fragmentation between ministry of education and MSDE - which run National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), respectively - has caused duplication and inefficiencies. "We are developing a unified apprenticeship portal to integrate certification, data sharing, and employer outreach. This will simplify processes, reduce compliance friction, and improve access for both apprentices and employers," the official added. The 38th meeting of Central Apprenticeship Council, chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, minister of state (independent charge), MSDE, recently discussed these proposals and charted a forward-looking policy roadmap. The reforms include targeted inclusion measures for women, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and youth from the northeastern region (NER). The official noted: "Expanding participation from under-represented groups, particularly from the North-East and PwDs, is a key priority. The pilot project launched in Mizoram, providing an additional Rs 1,500 monthly stipend to over 26,000 apprentices, highlights our commitment." Formal regulation of AEDPs will allow apprentices to earn recognised degrees alongside hands-on training, strengthening the link between education and industry needs. "Only 0.27% of India's workforce are apprentices, compared to 3% in the UK and Germany. Attrition rates remain high. Inflation-linked stipends and degree-linked apprenticeships will help reduce attrition and sustain a steady talent supply," said Nipun Sharma, CEO, degree apprenticeship, Team Lease. He also pointed out the low female participation, despite sectors like electronics manufacturing and smartphone assembly preferring female workers. On global deployment plan, the official said, "Allowing apprentices to gain experience at overseas client sites will expose them to international standards and prepare them for a competitive global workforce."
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Apprentices may get 30% higher stipend as central council proposes major hike
To support skill development and stop dropout among apprentices, the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) on Monday recommended increasing monthly stipends by 30% under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).The proposal was made during the 38th CAC meeting, which was chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The proposal is to enhance the attractiveness and economically feasible nature of the apprenticeship programme among students, especially considering rising living approval, the stipend range will rise from the current Rs 5,000 - Rs9,000 to Rs 6,800 - Rs 12,300. This move will be a relief for technical as well as non-technical apprentices, providing greater economic support and motivation for completing their training. Worth mentioning, the stipend will also be revised based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), leading to automatic revision after each two years based on inflation and pay THE GLOBAL APPRENTICESHIP GAPThe minister noted that India's apprenticeship engagement percentage is a paltry 0.27%, far from 4% in developed nations. The hike in stipends is among the steps being taken to bridge this gap and promote industry PM-NAPS, over 43.47 lakh apprentices have been trained across 36 states and UTs with 20% participation by women. Likewise, the NATS scheme has onboarded 5.23 lakh graduate and diploma apprentices in 2024-25 CAC also thought of expanding Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDPs), where classroom learning is combined with formal on-the-job training, making students more job-ready compared to regular reforms include merging the vocational training through the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) with apprenticeship for improved academic and industrial transition for revision final approval is pending as of now.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Central Apprenticeship Council proposes 36% stipend hike for youth: what it means for students
The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), on Monday recommended a 36% increase in apprentice stipends under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). Announced during the 38th CAC meeting chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the proposal aims to bridge the gap between education and employment while lowering dropout rates and expanding industry participation. Once approved, the stipend would increase from the current Rs 5,000 – Rs 9,000 range to Rs 6,800 – Rs 12,300. This hike is aimed not only at reducing dropout rates, but also improving program attractiveness, and address the financial limitations that prevent many from continuing their apprenticeships. This upward revision would also be automatically adjusted every two years, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), aligning with national salary cycles and ensuring that stipends remain relevant in the face of inflation, according to the statement released. 'The Central Apprenticeship Council's stipend increase is a welcome move and a strategic investment in India's human capital, directly addressing key challenges in apprenticeship uptake and retention. This enhanced financial support empowers more youth, particularly those from non-metro cities, to fully commit to rigorous training, reducing financial barriers that often lead to dropouts,' said Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-Founder of Scaler, an online upskilling platform for working tech professionals, focusing on software engineering. The government's proposal comes amid persistent concerns over dropout rates and poor apprenticeship penetration. With India's apprenticeship engagement at just 0.27% of the workforce, compared to 3-4% in developed nations, financial support is seen as a key lever for improving retention and encouraging participation. 'Despite notable progress, India's apprenticeship engagement remains significantly below global benchmarks. The stipend hike is a vital incentive to attract and retain talent in skilling programs,' noted Dr. Nipun Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, a public-private partnership program that blends academic study with work experience. According to the statement, dropout prevention was central to the CAC's agenda. By making apprenticeships financially viable, especially for students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds, the stipend revision is expected to encourage sustained participation across diverse sectors. Students in both technical and non-technical streams stand to gain. Under schemes like PM-NAPS, over 43.47 lakh apprentices have been engaged across 36 States and UTs, and female participation has touched 20%. The NATS scheme, targeting graduates and diploma holders, enrolled 5.23 lakh apprentices in the year 2024-25 alone. This stipend hike provides greater financial security to continue apprenticeships without interruption, improved job-readiness through exposure to real-world work environments and an overall increased higher appeal of vocational education, especially with rising cost-of-living in cities. 'Efficiency of production in India holds the key to how quickly we surpass global competitors. The skill level in many trades is still below global standards, and this increase is small but a welcome step,' said Dr VP Singh, Program Director at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon. A major thrust of the CAC's discussion also focused on enhancing Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDPs). These integrate classroom learning with structured on-the-job training, offering a credible alternative to purely academic degrees. Reforms also include simultaneous notification of Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and apprenticeship programs, ensuring better curricular alignment and smoother transitions for vocational learners. 'Our vision is to ensure every young person, regardless of background, gets a fair shot at a meaningful career through hands-on learning and industry exposure,' emphasised Minister Jayant Chaudhary, according to the statement.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Central Apprenticeship Council Hikes Stipend for Apprentices: A 30% Increase Announced, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHRWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App New Delhi: The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) chaired by Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Jayant Chaudhary on Monday decided to increase the minimum monthly stipend payable to apprentices under two schemes, from Rs 5,000-Rs 9,000 across five bands at present to Rs 6,800-Rs 12,300 once the proposed hike is revision of apprentice stipends is proposed to be automatically adjusted biennially based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), aligning with the salary increment cycle in July, officials said"We have two schemes. Under the PM-National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme ( PM-NAPS ) the government's contribution is Rs 1,500 or 25 per cent of the stipend amount whereas the government contributes 50 per cent of the stipend amount under National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). The present stipend rates are from Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 under the five bands. This has now been increased to Rs 6,800 to Rs 12,300," an official told the NAPS comes under the administrative control of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the NATS is implemented by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education."The highest band is Rs 9,000. We have proposed to increase it to Rs 12,300. There are five bands. For the lowest brand, the proposed increase is from Rs 5,000 to 6,800 and the highest was 9,000 to 12,300," said another the media after chairing the Central Apprenticeship Council meeting, the Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship informed regarding the decisions taken."The first thing is the stipend increase upwards of even 30 per cent in the various categories, stipend has been increased, which will provide a benefit to the industry and also the young people of our country. As you know, India is running the world's largest apprenticeship programme, and apprenticeship whether it's through national apprenticeship promotion scheme or it is through NAT scheme, which is done by the Higher Education Ministry, opens up a clear pathway for younger people to engage with industry and to become employable and get jobs," said the shared that another important issue which was deliberated upon was the capacity to do pure, online, blended apprenticeship programmes, specifically in some of the new domains like AI, green tech and other new sectors where there are new possibilities for employment."There was an idea that we can form working groups to look at and deliberate on various domains going forward," said 38th CAC meeting proposed to replace the existing list of industries (1987 code) with one aligned to NIC Code 2008 thereby expanding the scope of apprenticeship training to include emerging sectors like IT, software services, telecommunications, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Any future updates in the industrial classification will automatically reflect in the apprenticeship rules, said officials present in the a significant agenda item in the CAC meeting was the promotion of apprenticeship embedded education programmes, including the introduction of new definitions such as "Degree Apprenticeship", "Institution", "UGC", and "Contractual Staff", to align educational curricula with on-the-job training Council also proposed enabling employers to deliver basic and practical training through online, virtual, or blended modes, ensuring flexibility in learning without compromising the quality or compliance with centrally-approved syllabi, officials the meeting discussed the creation of regional boards at new locations to improve the administration and outreach of NATS and regulate the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP), necessitating the insertion of a new clause in the apprenticeship rules, they Council also emphasized on inclusivity by proposing the insertion of a definition for "Person with Benchmark Disability" in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act. It recommended that trades or subject fields specify their suitability for persons with benchmark disabilities and reserve training places accordingly, promoting equitable access and participation in apprenticeship last CAC meeting was held in June 2021. Since then, India's apprenticeship landscape has evolved considerably with over 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged across 36 states and Union Territories, and active participation from more than 51,000 establishments, enhanced outreach across districts and social groups, and renewed alignment with futuristic sectors through PM-NAPS and NATS schemes.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RLD state executive meeting today; expansion across UP a key agenda
1 2 Lucknow: The state executive meeting of Rashtriya Lok Dal will be held in Mathura on Tuesday, where party's top functionaries will workout the strategy to strengthen the organisation's grassroots presence in Uttar Pradesh. Sources in RLD, a key ally of BJP, said a robust membership drive and aggressive organisational expansion will be the key issues at the meeting, which will be addressed by party chief and Union minister Jayant Chaudhary . Jayant, who holds the portfolio of skill development, seeks to shore up support among youth. Engaging with farmers and marginalised sections of society will also figure on the agenda. Discussions will also touch upon the political roadmap for next year's panchayat elections and the subsequent state elections due in 2027. A senior RLD functionary said that augmenting its base among Muslims and strengthening the party structure in east UP will be the underlying motto of the meeting. In fact, RLD's focus on Muslims has been attaining prominence post the Waqf Amendment Act, which stoked rumblings among the Muslim cadres within the party. RLD state general secretary of the minority wing, Aatir Rizvi, said the party has been depicting the Waqf Amendment Act as being "favourable" to the community and functionaries have been asked to reach out to the minority community and explain the Act in the "correct perspective". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Amid changed political dynamics post-2024 Lok Sabha elections, which saw emergence of the Samajwadi Party and its ally Congress, the BJP and its allies have been looking to recalibrate their strategies. RLD, which has a sound base in the west UP region, has started looking to tap the eastern part of the state. The efforts could help the party to have a broader social coalition. Sources said RLD national general secretary (organisation) Trilok Tyagi and national secretary Anupam Mishra are scheduled to camp in Basti on June 1 to step up the organisational spadework in east UP. The party plans to send its key organisational leaders to Ballia and Sonebhadra in the next few days. In addition to expanding the organisational network, the party leadership is expected to deliberate on appointing dedicated functionaries specifically tasked with overseeing activities in Purvanchal districts. These functionaries will be responsible for setting up block and village-level committees, identifying local issues, and preparing the ground for future electoral battles.
