On May 20, 2025, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched a Pilot Apprenticeship Scheme under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to boost apprenticeship opportunities in the North Eastern Region (NER). The scheme aims to provide structured, paid, and high-quality apprenticeship training to the youth in the Northeastern states.
- The scheme was jointly launched by the Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge, IC), Jayant Chaudhary, MSDE and Lalduhoma, Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram at an event held in Aizawl, Mizoram.
- Rs. 43.93 crore has been earmarked for the pilot project, which includes Rs. 4 crores for outreach, capacity building, and project implementation
Key People:
Union MoS, Lalnghinglova hmar, Ministry of Labour, Employment (MoL&E) and MSDE; Sapdanga, Minister of Home, Government of Mizoram; Madhumita Das, Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, MSDE, Shreeshail Malge, MSDE were also present.
About Pilot Apprenticeship Scheme:
i.Under the advanced apprenticeship scheme, approximately 26,000 youths from the northeast region will receive an additional Rs.1,500 per month for one year.
- It is over and above the existing stipend of up to Rs.1,500 per month, provided under NAPS, which is implemented across India.
ii.The enhanced financial support is designed to address mobility-related challenges and ensure that youth from the region can access training opportunities both within and outside the northeast.
iii.The implementation of the scheme will be overseen by Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati(Assam), and New Delhi(Delhi) based National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), supported by Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(RDSDEs), and local institutions.
iv.Under the pilot initiative, 1,000 youth will be trained by 2026 through a blended training model comprising 120 hours of classroom instruction and 210 hours of On-The-Job training (OJT) at Welspun’s state-of-the-art facilities in Anjar and Vapi, Gujarat.
v.Welspun will lead curriculum design, training delivery, and guaranteed captive placement for successful candidates, while NSDC will support mobilization, pre-screening, digital onboarding via the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), and funding of classroom training.
- Upon completion, candidates will receive joint certification from NSDC and Welspun, significantly enhancing their employability.
vi.The initiative supports Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of “Ashta Lakshmi” and “Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East”, aiming to bridge the education-industry gap.
Sidelines of the Event:
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between the NSDC and Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Welspun Living Limited, to operate a high-impact initiative for apprenticeship-linked skilling in the textile sector.
- The objective of the MoU is to build a future-ready workforce for operator roles, with a focus on inclusive participation, ensuring that at least 50% of the trained candidates are women.
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE):
Minister of State (MoS)(Independent Charge, IC) – Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha – Uttar Pradesh, UP)
