38th Meeting Of The Central Apprenticeship Council

Recently, the 38th Meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council was held in New Delhi.

About Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a work-based training program that helps individuals gain practical skills, earn a stipend, and receive certification, making them job-ready.
In India, it is regulated under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):
- It was launched in August 2016 to promote apprenticeship training in the country .
- Objectives of the NAPS:
  - Develop industry-ready skills through on-the-job training.
  - Boost apprenticeship by sharing stipend costs.
  - Upskill short-term trained candidates.
  - Promote apprenticeships in MSMEs and underserved regions.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS):
- NATS implements apprenticeship training for engineering graduates, diploma holders and general steam graduates; NAPS is for the rest of the categories of apprentices.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education (MoE)

Statutory Body: The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) is a statutory body established under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
Primary Role: It functions as an advisory body to the Government of India on policies and strategies related to apprenticeship training.
Chairperson: The Union Minister for Skill Development serves as the Chairperson of the CAC.
Sectoral Representation: It has members from Public Sector Enterprises, Private Sector Companies, Sector Skill Councils, Government Representatives, Industry Experts, Training Bodies and Boards.

Apprentice Stipends: The Council proposed a 30% increase in stipends under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).
- This will raise the stipend range to ₹6,800–₹12,300, aiming to reduce dropout rates and attract more candidates.
Sector Coverage: Recommended replacing the 1987 industry classification with NIC (National Industrial Classification) 2008, enabling inclusion of emerging sectors like IT, telecom, biotechnology, and software services.
Reforms: Called for policy streamlining and strengthening of apprenticeship-integrated education under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
Apprenticeship Embedded Education: Advocated introducing new terms such as “Degree Apprenticeship” and aligning educational curricula with on-the-job training to embed apprenticeship in formal education.
Flexible Training Delivery Modes: Proposed allowing employers to conduct Basic and Practical Training via online, virtual, or blended methods, ensuring flexibility while maintaining quality.
Persons with Disabilities: Recommended adding a definition for “Person with Benchmark Disability” in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act to enhance inclusivity in apprenticeship programmes.

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