National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme — for engineering / diploma / sandwich-course apprentices, with stipend management and government reimbursement filed for you.
NATS apprenticeships, end-to-end.
NATS lets you bring on engineering graduates, diploma holders and sandwich-course students as apprentices for up to 1 year. The government reimburses 50% of the prescribed minimum stipend — for a degree apprentice (B.E./B.Tech), the minimum stipend is ₹9,000/month, of which the government pays ₹4,500 and you pay ₹4,500. For diploma holders, the minimum is ₹8,000/month with a government contribution of ₹4,000/month. As with all apprentices under the Apprentices Act, there is no PF, ESI, gratuity or bonus obligation on stipends — the statutory savings typically exceed the reimbursement itself. TMS registers your establishment with BOAT, onboards apprentices on the NATS portal, runs their monthly stipend payroll and files the reimbursement claim quarter on quarter.
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS): eligibility, stipend and employer benefits
The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is run by the Ministry of Education through the Regional Boards of Apprenticeship and Practical Training. It lets an employer engage technically qualified young people as apprentices for up to a year, train them on real work, and recover half the stipend from the government. For most companies it is the cleanest way to build an engineering and diploma talent pipeline at a controlled cost.
Who you can engage under NATS
NATS is built for engineering graduates (B.E./B.Tech), diploma holders and sandwich-course students from degree and diploma institutions. The apprentice should be an Indian citizen, usually with no prior full-time work experience in the trade. The training runs for six months to one year, after which the apprentice receives a Certificate of Proficiency recognised across the country.
Stipend and government reimbursement
The prescribed monthly stipend was revised in 2025 to a band of Rs 6,800 to Rs 12,300, depending on qualification, and an employer is free to pay more. Under NATS the Government of India reimburses 50% of the prescribed stipend to the employer, which is the most generous stipend share of any Indian apprenticeship scheme. The claim is filed periodically and credited to the establishment.
Why employers use NATS
Apprentices engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961 are not treated as employees, so there is no employer Provident Fund (12%) or ESIC (3.25%) liability on their stipend. You train the apprentice to your own standards, assess performance over the full term, and decide at the end whether to offer a permanent role. There is no obligation to absorb anyone, which makes NATS a low-risk way to test future hires.
How registration works
The establishment registers on nats.education.gov.in, posts its apprenticeship requirements, selects and enrols apprentices, pays the monthly stipend, records training and attendance, and files the reimbursement claim. At completion the apprentice is issued the Certificate of Proficiency. The portal paperwork is where most employers lose time, and it is the part TMS runs end to end.
| Run by | Ministry of Education (Regional Boards of Apprenticeship / Practical Training) |
| Registration portal | nats.education.gov.in |
| Who it is for | Engineering graduates, diploma holders, sandwich-course students |
| Duration | 6 months to 1 year |
| Monthly stipend | Rs 6,800 to Rs 12,300 by qualification (revised 2025) |
| Government share | 50% of the stipend, reimbursed to the employer |
| Employer PF / ESIC | Exempt under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
Comparing schemes? See NATS vs NAPS, the employer NATS registration process, or the NAPS scheme.
Quick answers
Is NATS only for engineering graduates?
No. While engineering graduates are the largest group, NATS also covers diploma holders and sandwich-course students from both degree and diploma institutions. It is a technical scheme, so the roles are engineering and technical in nature, but it is broader than B.E./B.Tech alone.
How long does NATS registration take for an employer?
Establishment registration on the NATS portal is usually completed within a few working days once the company details and authorised signatory are ready. Enrolling apprentices and starting the stipend follows after that. With the documentation in order, most employers are live on the scheme inside two to three weeks.
Can a small company use NATS?
Yes. Smaller establishments can engage apprentices voluntarily and still claim the 50% stipend reimbursement. If your hiring is mostly non-technical or ITI-based, NAPS may fit better, but for engineering and diploma roles NATS works for companies of any size.
What TMS handles in NATS
Establishment registration
Your company registered with the appropriate Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) — Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur or Kolkata depending on region.
Apprentice onboarding
Apprentice profiles uploaded to the NATS portal, contracts signed, and credentialing verified for engineering / diploma / sandwich-course candidates.
Monthly stipend payroll
Apprentice stipends processed on the same cycle as your regular payroll, with PT and TDS handled correctly where applicable.
Government reimbursement
50% of prescribed stipend filed quarterly with BOAT for reimbursement — typical realisation 60–90 days.
Records of training
Mandatory monthly Record of Training maintained per apprentice for the Apprenticeship Adviser's inspection.
Certificate of Proficiency
End-of-training Certificate of Proficiency filed with BOAT for every apprentice — a real credential they can use anywhere.
How a NATS engagement runs
Brief
30-minute call to map roles, hiring volume and the BOAT region your facilities sit in.
Proposal
Scope: registration / onboarding / payroll / reimbursement filing. Per-apprentice fee. Within 48 hours.
Engagement
Monthly cycle runs — stipend pay, RoT maintenance, quarterly claim file. SPOC + senior reviewer.
Completion
Certificate of Proficiency filed for each apprentice; convert to full-time roles where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NATS, and who can hire under it?
The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is run by the Ministry of Education. Any establishment can engage engineering graduates (B.E./B.Tech), diploma holders and sandwich-course students as apprentices for up to 1 year, with government sharing the stipend cost.
How much does the government reimburse under NATS?
50% of the prescribed minimum stipend, reimbursed quarterly through BOAT. In practice: degree apprentice (B.E./B.Tech) = ₹4,500/month from government (prescribed minimum ₹9,000); diploma apprentice = ₹4,000/month from government (prescribed minimum ₹8,000). TMS files the claim for you.
Do I have to pay PF, ESI or gratuity on NATS apprentice stipends?
No. NATS apprentices are governed by the Apprentices Act 1961 and are not classified as employees under the EPF Act, ESI Act or Payment of Gratuity Act. There is no PF, ESI, gratuity or bonus obligation on their stipends. For most employers this is the larger saving — a degree graduate costs you ₹4,500/month in stipend vs ₹20,000–30,000+ CTC as a regular hire.
Can NATS apprentices be converted to permanent employees?
Yes, and it’s common. After the Certificate of Proficiency is issued, you can hire them onto your payroll (or onto TMS Contract Staffing) as confirmed employees.
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