The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has notified new amendment rules to the Apprenticeship Act, 1961, on September 11, 2025. The amendments introduced crucial reforms to strengthen India’s apprenticeship program and ensure fair opportunities for youth and industries, and shall be amended from the date of release.
Key Amendments:
Eligibility Criteria
The amendment mentions that no degree apprentice shall be eligible for being engaged as an apprentice under the Act after passing the final examination of the technical institution unless approved by the Apprenticeship Advisor or the Regional Central Apprenticeship Adviser.
Inclusion of PwD
Following that, the amendment specifies that every trade or subject field must include persons with disability, and the training places for persons with benchmark disabilities in the trade or subject field shall be reserved under the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Employer and Institution Responsibility
The amendment also reveals that within every financial year, each establishment must engage apprentices in a group of 2.5 percent. to 15 per cent. of the total strength of an establishment, including contractual staff, and also states that a minimum of 5 per cent of the total be reserved for fresher apprentices and skill certificate holder apprentices.
Training Criteria
The amendment introduced:
a) A minimum one-year gap between two apprenticeship trainings.
b) A person may pursue a maximum of two apprenticeships, but the second apprenticeship should not be in the same trade.
c) If an apprentice (except women) terminates their apprenticeship contract due to health, financial restrictions, relocation, transportation, career change, or language barrier, then there shall be a waiting period of three months before entering into a new apprenticeship contract with the same or another employer.
d) In case the contract of apprenticeship is terminated for failure on the part of the apprentice to carry out the terms of the contract, then the apprentice will not be permitted to enter another contract of Apprenticeship under any Act with any other employer.
Revised Stipend Structure
The notification also presents a revised minimum monthly stipend payable to apprentices in accordance with the qualifications stipulated in the curriculum.
| Sr.No. | Category | Prescribed minimum amount of stipend |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | School pass-outs (class 5th – class 9th) | Rs. 6,800 per month |
| 2. | School pass-outs (class 10th) | Rs. 8,200 per month |
| 3. | School pass-outs (class 12th) | Rs. 9,600 per month |
| 4. | National or State Certificate holder | Rs. 9,600 per month |
| 5. | Technician (vocational) apprentice or Vocational Certificate holder or Sandwich Course (Students from Diploma Institutions) | Rs. 9,600 per month |
| 6. | Technician apprentices or diploma holder in any stream or sandwich course (students from degree institutions) | Rs. 10,900 per month |