Apprenticeship rules revised: Stipend hiked 81% to Rs 12,300

New Delhi: The ministry of skills development and entrepreneurship has notified key changes to the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 paving the way for an increase in stipend to ₹12,300 per month from ₹6,800.

The changes also usher in reforms such as promoting degree apprenticeships, remote or virtual apprenticeships training, expanding regional boards, wider coverage of industries and ensuring inclusivity for persons with benchmark disabilities.

The notification comes days after the 38th Central Apprenticeship Council meeting chaired by skills development minister Jayant Chaudhary approved the changes to the rules for incentivising youth and employers to undertake apprenticeship training.

"These landmark changes will strengthen India's skilling ecosystem, making apprenticeships more attractive, inclusive and rewarding," a senior government official said.

As per the notification, the ministry has introduced 'degree apprenticeship', which includes courses having apprenticeship as an integrated component of the curriculum.

Besides, it mandates each establishment to engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 15% of the total strength of the establishment including contractual staff, subject to a minimum of 5% of the total to be reserved for fresher apprentices and skill certificate holder apprentices.

"If the prescribed training places for fresher apprentice and skill certificate holder apprentice cannot be filled, then the training places so lying unfilled may be filled by other categories of apprentices with the approval of the apprenticeship adviser," it said.

The notification also said there must be a minimum one year gap between two apprenticeship trainings provided that the previous training is completed and no gap will be required in the case of termination of previous apprenticeship training due to failure.