National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

 

Introduction

Apprenticeship Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is to promote apprenticeship training in the country.

As per the scheme, Government of India will share 25% of prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500 per month per apprentice with the employers. Government of India will also share maximum Rs.7500 per fresher apprentice (without any formal trade training) as a cost of basic training with Basic Training Providers.

The scheme would commence from 1st October, 2016. Employers who have engaged the apprentices before 1st October, 2016 will get the benefits of scheme from 1st October, 2016 only.

State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAAs) and Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship (RDATs) will act as implementing agencies in their respective State/Regions.

 

Objective of the Scheme

 

The main objective of the scheme is to promote apprenticeship training and to increase the engagement of apprentices from present 2.3 lakh to 50 lakh cumulatively by 2020.

 

Components of the Scheme

The scheme has the following two components.

  • Sharing of 25% of prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500/- per month per apprentice with the employers. The stipend support would not be given during the basic training period for fresher apprentices.
  • Sharing of basic training cost in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship training without any formal trade training. Basic training cost will be limited to Rs. 7500/- for a maximum of 500 hours/3 months.

 

Scope of the Scheme

This scheme will cover all categories of apprentices except the Graduate, Technician and Technician (Vocational) apprentices which are covered by the scheme administered by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

 

Scheme Targets

Target under the scheme shall be 5 lakh apprentices in 2016-17, 10 lakh apprentices in 2017-18, 15 lakh apprentices in 2018-2019 and 20 lakh apprentices in 2019-20. The engagement of fresher apprentices shall be 20% of total annual target.

 

Implementing Agencies

Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training (RDATs) under the control of Directorate General of Training will act as implementing agencies in their regions for Central Public Sector Undertaking and establishments operating their business in 4 or more States.

State Apprenticeship Advisers will act as implementing agencies for state public sector and private establishments under their jurisdiction.

 

Key features

  • Wider options for the apprentices – integration with other schemes Courses under PMKVY/MES will be linked with apprenticeship training. These courses will be given the status of optional trades & the relevant practical content for On-the-Job training will be added by SSC/NCVT as the case may be. The total duration of On-the-Job/Practical training for these courses will be of one year (excluding the period of basic training)
  • Ease of Administering through technology – Online portal would be used for administering the implementation of the Apprenticeship Training. It will address the requirements of all key stakeholders. Portal will facilitate:
    • For Industry
      • On-line registration
      • Declare apprenticeship seats/vacancies
      • Search & shortlist candidates specific to sector, trades, region etc.
      • Issue offer letters to candidates for engaging as apprentices
      • Submit contract of apprenticeship on-line for approval by respective RDAT/State Apprenticeship Advisor
      • Monitoring of apprenticeship training.
      • On-line submission of returns and records
      • On-line submission of claims.
      • Online payment of Government share
    • For candidates
      • On-line registration indicating their sector/trades of choice
      • Sending application to potential employers for apprenticeship training,
      • Online receipt and acceptance of offer letters from establishments
      • Process all necessary contractual obligations online.
      • Search and select Basic Training Provider (BTP) specific to sector, trades and region
    • For Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship Training/State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAA)
      • Review & approve contracts of apprenticeship
      • Monitor the implementation of apprenticeship training
      • Receipt and review of claims from employers
      • Online payment of 25% of prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500/- per month per apprentice to the employers o Receipt and review of applications from BTP by RDATs
      • Receipt of Inspection report and approval of BTP by RDATs
      • Receipt and review of claims from BTP on-line.
      • Payment of cost of basic training to BTPs
    • For Basic Training Provider (BTP)
      • On-line registration
      • Declare basic training seats/vacancies
      • Search & shortlist candidates specific to sector, trades, region etc.
      • Provide basic training to apprentices who have been sponsored by a employer after execution of contract with apprentice
      • Placement of apprentices for on-the-job training with employer after basic training.
      • On-line submission of claims.
  • Portal will also facilitate for time bound approval of contract of apprenticeship, centralized database for compliance and monitoring, online verification of candidates profile, management of on-line examination for generation and issue of hall tickets.

 

Implementation Plan

Eligibility of Employer

  • Employer is any person/entity who has business in any trade or occupation.
  • The employers interested to avail the benefits of the scheme must fulfill the following:
    • Employer shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment
    • Employers must be registered with EPFO/ESIC/LIN/ UDYOGAADHAR
    • Employers must have TIN number.
    • Employers must register on the apprenticeship portal.
    • Employers must have an aadhaar linked bank account

Eligibility of Apprentice

  • An apprentice is a person who has made contract of apprenticeship with the employer for apprenticeship training under the Act.
  • Apprentices can be engaged from the following four categories:
    • Trainees passed out from ITI courses
    • Trainees under dual-learning mode from ITIs
    • Trainees who have completed PMKVY/MES courses
    • Candidates who possess minimum educational qualification required for a trade and have not undergone any formal trade training (Fresher apprentices)
  • Apprentice must fulfill the following:
    • He/she has completed 14 years of age and fulfills other requirements of the Apprentices Act, 1961.
    • Every apprentice has to register on the portal.
    • Every apprentice must have an aadhaar number.
    • Must possess minimum age, educational and physical qualification prescribed  for the trade
  • Maximum age in respect of Fresher apprentices shall be 21 years. Number of such apprentices may be upto 20% of the target in a year.

Eligibility of Basic Training Providers

  • Basic Training Provider (BTP) is an entity who has the facilities for imparting basic training to apprentices.
  • Types of BTPs:
    • Government & Private Industrial Training Institutes.
    • Industries/ establishments with in-house basic training facilities.
    • BTP set up/supported by Industry clusters
  • Selection of BTP:
    • Government/Private ITI will automatically get selected as a BTP provided that they have spare seats (within overall affiliation) for running basic training. Spare shifts may be used for basic training.
    • BTP will have to apply through portal for registration
    • RDAT will review the application of BTP
    • RDAT will arrange for physical inspection of BTP by a committee constituted for this purpose.
    • Submission of Inspection report on-line by the committee.
    • Review of inspection report and approval of BTP by RDAT
    • Selection and offer to BTP on-line by RDAT.
  • BTPs interested to avail the benefits of the scheme must fulfill the following:
    • After approval, they can get registered
    • BTP must be registered on the apprenticeship portal.
    • BTP must have an aadhaar linked Bank Account.

 

Fields of apprenticeship training

Apprenticeship training can be provided to apprentices both in designated and optional trades.

  • Designated trade : Designated trade means any trade or occupation as notified by the Government. At present, there are 259 designated trades are available for apprenticeship training.
  • Optional trade :
    • PMKVY/MES – Courses under PMKVY/MES with a duration of minimum 500 hrs. as basic training component and a one year practical content for on-the-job component designed by SSC/NCVT will be declared as optional trades.
    • Created by employer –In a trade decided by employer with a duration of minimum 500 hrs. as basic training component and a one year practical content for on-the-job component, designed by employer and uploaded on the apprenticeship portal.

 

Duration of Apprenticeship Training

Apprenticeship Training consists of Basic Training and On-the-Job-Training/Practical Training at the workplace in the industry. Duration of apprenticeship training for different routes for getting the financial benefits of the scheme will be as follows:

Routes of apprenticeship training Duration of Basic Training Duration of Practical Training/On-the-job-Training
Maximum Minimum Maximum
ITIs pass-outs Not required 1 year 2 years
PMKVY/SDI ,, 1 year 2 years
Dual-learning mode from ITIs ,,  

5 to 9 months

Fresher apprentices 3 months 1 year 2 years

 

Sharing of Basic Training Cost to Basic training Providers

The following procedure shall be adopted under the scheme for payment of basic training cost i.e. Rs. 7500/- per apprentice for 500 hours/3 months:

RDATs/States will make the payment towards cost of basic training to Basic Training Providers through their bank account. Rs. 5000/- per apprentice as a basic training cost shall be made after successful completion of basic training and the remaining basic training cost i.e. Rs. 2500/- per apprentice shall be paid after completion of apprenticeship training by the apprentice.

Source : Apprenticeship Training Portal.