With an aim to promote uptake of domain specific apprentices by various Central Ministries/Departments, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through “Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP)” program has designed an initiativeto fund stipend for 1,000 apprentices across the Central Ministries/Departments (around 20 apprentices per Ministry/ Department) for a period of one year.

So far, seven Central Ministries/Departments have responded to the initiative and have been permitted to deploy 107 apprentices.

Following are the category of apprentices that will be engaged:

• Apprentices with Vocational Certificate – 300Nosat monthly stipend of Rs,7,000.
• Apprentices with Diploma – 300Nosat monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000.
• Apprentices with Degree- 400Nosat monthly stipend of Rs. 9,000.

The proposed stipend can be increased subject to the requirement of Ministries/ Departments (with a ceiling of Rs 15,000 per month per apprentice) along with a flexibility to alter number of apprentice across the three categories. After one year of engagement, the Ministries (and their respective Departments) are expected to continue these positions utilizing their own funds.

Central Ministries/Departments will be registering in the apprenticeship portal as an establishment and can access data of already registered candidates based on region specific search parameters. However, mobilization and selection of candidates are the responsibility of respective Central Ministries/Department.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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MJPS/AK