Support towards stipends for apprentices you train
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
The Government pays part of the stipend of an apprentice you engage under the Apprentices Act, 1961, straight to the apprentice. The version of the scheme (NAPS-2) approved for the 15th Finance Commission period ended on 31 March 2026. An Office Memorandum of the Ministry of Skill Development dated 23 April 2026, which we read on the apprenticeship portal, continues it on the same terms up to 30 September 2026, or until the next version (PM-NAPS 3.0, which was then before the Expenditure Finance Committee) is approved, whichever is earlier. The portal's list of orders on 24 October 2026 shows no later order, and we found no approval of PM-NAPS 3.0 or any further extension after 30 September 2026. The Ministry did launch a North East add-on under PM-NAPS for 2026-27 on 17 July 2026. So the terms below are those of the interim period, and what applies after 30 September 2026 is not public.
Units that want to train new workers on the job
- The Government pays 25 percent of the minimum prescribed stipend, up to ₹1,500 per apprentice per month, into the apprentice's bank account; the employer pays the rest
- An extra ₹1,500 a month for apprentices under the North East special intervention for 2026-27
- Register as an establishment on the apprenticeship portal
- Engage apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961
Register on the apprenticeship portal and engage your apprentices through it. Before you count on the Government's share of the stipend, ask the portal helpdesk or your Regional Central Apprenticeship Advisor whether NAPS-2 has been extended beyond 30 September 2026 or replaced by PM-NAPS 3.0.