Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through a nationwide network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), offering in 169 NSQF Compliant courses,catering to the youth of the country including Maharashtra.A wide range of digital learning resources including e-content, e-books, videos, and other materials is made available to trainees through the Bharat Skillsportal and theSkill India Digital Hub (SIDH)platform.

 

The theory examinations under the All India Trade Test (AITT) for CTS are conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode to objectively assess the knowledge and competencies of ITI trainees. The complete examination lifecycle such as scheduling, hall ticket generation, evaluation, result declaration, and issuance of e-marksheets and e-certificates is seamlessly managed through the SIDH Portal.

 

For practical examinations, the State Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Committee (SSDEC) and the respective State/UT Directorates are empowered to prepare question papers and conduct assessments within ITIs. Practical exams are video-recorded, and marks are submitted online to ensure transparency and standardisation.

 

The Dual System of Training (DST) is being actively promoted across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to enhance industry exposure, practical learning, and employability of trainees. Under this model, institutional training is integrated with structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) in industry, and all trades under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) are being offered in DST mode. To further strengthen industry–institute collaboration, DGT has undertaken the following initiatives:

1. All new affiliations granted in the third shift of ITIs are permitted exclusively in DST mode, encouraging wider adoption of the model and stronger linkages with industry.
2. Weightage has been assigned in the Data-Driven Grading mechanism for enrolment under DST, incentivizing ITIs to increase the proportion of trainees opting for the DST model.

 

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) aims at providing on-the-job training and skilling of Indian youth, under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and its subsequent amendments. It is implemented by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education through four regional Boards of Apprenticeship Training/Practical Training (BoATs/BoPT) located at Mumbai, Kanpur, Chennai and Kolkata.

 

To meet the rising demand for AI talent, the Ministry of Education has launched the AI Apprenticeship Programme under NATS. This initiative offers structured on-the-job training for graduates and diploma holders seeking to develop expertise in various areas such as Data Science, Machine Learning, Application Development, Prompt Engineering, and more. The programme involves establishments that are either developing core AI/ML technologies and applications to tackle specific challenges or those leveraging AI to solve sector-specific problems in fields like Agriculture, Healthcare, and Logistics. These establishments provide AI Apprenticeship training to graduates, diploma holders, and students enrolled in the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Program (AEDP). In the financial year 2025-26, a total of 74,486 apprentices participated in the AI Apprenticeship Programme.

 

The Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma Programme (AEDP) is an academic initiative that allows students enrolled in undergraduate programmes to undertake apprenticeship training as an integral part of their degree or diploma, in accordance with AICTE and UGC guidelines for AEDP implementation, issued in July 2025. Over 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and universities, with more than 14,000 students currently enrolled in the AEDP.

 

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) aims to promote apprenticeship training across the country. Initially, launched in August 2016, the scheme is presently being implemented in its second phase (NAPS-2). Under NAPS-2, the Government provides partial stipend support of up to 25% of the minimum prescribed stipend, subject to a ceiling of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month. The stipend is transferred directly to apprentices through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

 

As per the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the relevant Rules, establishmentsincluding MSMEsare required to undertake certain administrative activities for engaging apprentices. These include:

 

1. registration on the apprenticeship portal,
2. selection of suitable apprenticeship courses,
3. mobilization and selection of candidates,
4. issuance of apprenticeship contracts through the portal,
5. provision of basic and on-the-job training,
6. processing of stipend payments
7. uploading attendance and assessment details, and
8. uploading syllabus for Optional Trades, where applicable.

 

To ease the above administrative burden, the Ministry has empanelled Third Party Aggregators (TPAs). Establishments, including MSMEs, may avail their services for smoother implementation of apprenticeship training.

 

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

 

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