MSDE Extends Special Intervention under PM-NAPS to Boost Apprenticeship Opportunities for Youth in the North-Eastern Region

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) extended a special intervention for apprenticeship promotion in the North-Eastern Region (NER).
• This extension falls under the Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) and is for FY 2026-27.
• The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, will implement the initiative.
• A target of 30,000 apprentices has been set for FY 2026-27, with a financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore.
• The initiative aims to boost youth employability and deepen apprenticeship penetration across all eight North-Eastern States.

Detailed Insights:

• The extended intervention builds on a successful pilot initiative launched in May 2025.
• The target of 30,000 apprentices includes 15,000 opportunities outside the North-East and 15,000 within the region.
• The financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore will be met through the North-Eastern Region component of PM-NAPS.
• An additional financial incentive of ₹1,500 per month, previously for apprentices moving outside their domicile state, now also covers those engaged within their home states in NER.
• The pilot initiative achieved 23,470 apprentices against a target of 26,000, demonstrating over 90% success.
• Apprenticeship engagement in the region grew by 51%, from 15,562 in FY 2024-25 to 23,470 in FY 2025-26.
• Meghalaya recorded the highest increase of 95% in apprenticeship participation during the pilot phase.
• The initiative also saw a notable rise in female apprenticeship engagement and doubled participation from government establishments.
• This effort reaffirms the government's commitment to empowering youth and accelerating inclusive growth under the Skill India Mission.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS): A scheme to promote apprenticeship training in India by providing financial support to establishments and apprentices.
• Skill India Mission: A government initiative launched to train and empower the Indian workforce with various skills to enhance employability.
• Apprenticeship: A system of training where individuals learn a trade or profession through on-the-job experience combined with theoretical instruction.