National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

Apprenticeship training has been adopted as a major skill development intervention to provide larger employment opportunities to the youth across India. This has been a successful model, which has improved the employability of the apprentices and is widely practiced across the world. Currently less than 5% of the workforces in India receive any formal training. In addition, India adds close to 10 million people to the workforce every year. India is having nearly 70% of its population in the working age category.

Hence, to scale-up various skill development initiatives, including apprenticeship training, across the country to reap the benefits of demographic dividend, MSDE made significant reforms to the Apprentices Act 1961, making it easier for the industry to hire apprentices. To further catalyse apprenticeship training across the country, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, launched National Apprenticeship Promotions Scheme (NAPS).

Talensetu is a leader in the domain of Employability. It connects well with plenty of Educational institutions, the Labour market across the country. Govt of India through its Skill Development Ministry finds Amigo, a group company of Talensetu , worthy to join hands for the role of promoting and facilitating NAPS as a Third Party Aggregator (TPA).

Amendments or Reforms in Apprenticeship Act under NAPS

  • Additional focus on manufacturing, trade, service sector and other sectors
  • Introduction of ‘optional trades’ with curriculum designed by the industry
  • Removed Stringent Clauses
  • Hire apprentices within a band of 2.5% to 15% of its workforce (including direct contractual employees) every year
  • Involvement of NSDC along with SSCs will also remove the perception of heavy government regulation
  • Integrating short-term courses such a PMKVY, DDU-GKY etc. with apprenticeship training.
  • Automated processes and ease in hiring and reporting requirements through a dedicated apprenticeship portal
  • Industry can now opt for in-house Basic Training or can also outsource the same.

NAPS Benefits for the Industry/Employer

  • Employers can engage apprentices’ up-to 2.5% to 15% of the total workforce
  • Industry can opt for in-house Basic Training or can outsource
  • The OJT time period could be 6 months – 36 months
  • Financial benefits to employer for hiring apprentices
    • Reimbursement of 25% of prescribed stipend to employers with respect to all apprentices, subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500/- per month per apprentice.
    • Sharing the cost of basic training with respect to fresher limited to Rs. 7500/- per apprentice for a maximum duration of 500 hours/3 months.
  • Introduction of Short Term Training Candidates create a fresh talent pool trained on industry requirement proactively address hiring requirement by training the apprentices as per industry
  • Recognize talent based on performance delivered .
  • Candidates start contributing productively after short training
  • Employers who are engaging apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 are exempted towards contribution of EPF and ESI for apprentices engaged by them.
  • Companies can also undertake skill training from their CSR funds over and above the minimum requirement under the Apprentices Act.
  • Direct contribution to nation building through partnership with Skill India mission
  • Submission of returns, other information and contract of apprenticeship through apprenticeship portal, which has further provisions for time bound approval
  • Earn social goodwill and improve brand image as a responsible company

Amigo, a group company of Talensetu, as a third party aggregator (TPA) can undertake the NAPS program on behalf of employer.

Apprenticeship training not only provides an optimum balance between theory and hands-on experience but also updates the apprentices’ skills and knowledge of various codes, safety rules and regulations, procedures, proper use of tools and equipment, reading and interpreting documentation, troubleshooting, and teamwork and communication skills and creates industry ready workforce.