National Apprenticeship Training Scheme: Cabinet approves aid of over Rs 3k crore

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on November 24, took a decision related to National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved to continue NATS for next five years. Approval has been given to stipendiary support of Rs 3,054 crore to apprentices will complete apprenticeship training under NATS of Ministry of Education. It will be applicable for people undergoing training for period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 (up to March 31, 2026).

Stipend details

Over 9 lakhs apprentices will be trained by Industry and commercial organisations. apprentices who have completed ir gruation and diploma programmes from Engineering, Humanities, Science and Commerce streams will be given stipends of Rs 9,000 and Rs 8,000 per month respectively. Government has approved an expenditure of more than Rs. 3,000 crore during next five years which is about 4.5 times expenditure me during previous 5 years. This increased expenditure on apprenticeship is in line with thrust which National Education Policy 2020 has given to apprenticeship.

Ministry of Education says that NATS will provide apprenticeships in emerging areas under 'Production Linked Incentive' (PLI) such as Mobile manufacturing, Medical devices manufacturing, Pharma sector, Electronics/Technology products, Automobile sector etc. scheme will also be preparing skilled manpower for connectivity/logistics industry sectors, identified under GatiShakti. highlights of official notification can be checked here.

According to an official notification, "In keeping with Government emphasis on "SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, --SabkaVishwas, SabkaPrayaas", scope of NATS has furr been expanded to include students from Humanities, Science and Commerce besides students from engineering stream. This scheme aims to raise standards of skill level by strengning skill ecosystem and as a result, will provide employment to approximately 7 lakhs youths in next five years."

About NATS

Under  National Apprenticeship Scheme, apprenticeship training is provided to students who are pursuing technical courses. Now students pursuing education in non-technical subjects will also be able to get benefit of this scheme. government has prepared a final cabinet note of this amendment and this note has been sent to Cabinet Secretariat. An inter-ministerial consultation was also held in this regard and final note is sent to cabinet secretariat for consideration. Through this amendment educational training to gruates, technicians, and degree apprentices will be offered.