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National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme — for ITI, fresher and skill-based apprentices, with 25% stipend reimbursement and DGT compliance handled.

20 yrs
NAPS experience
450+
Apprentices managed
28 states
States covered
1 SPOC
Per cohort

Quick answer

NAPS full form: National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme — a Government of India scheme (MSDE / DGT) that lets employers engage apprentices and claim 25% of the stipend, up to ₹1,500/month per apprentice, as reimbursement.

NAPS registration is done on the apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portal. TMS handles NAPS registration, apprentice contracts, quarterly stipend-reimbursement claims and full compliance end-to-end.

NAPS apprenticeships, paid for partly by the government.

NAPS lets you onboard ITI graduates, fresher trainees and skill-based apprentices under the Apprentices Act. The government reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend — up to ₹1,500/month per apprentice — paid quarterly. For fresher (trade) apprentices, the government also covers 50% of basic training cost, up to ₹7,500 per apprentice (one-time). Beyond the reimbursement, apprentices under the Apprentices Act are not classified as employees — which means zero PF, zero ESI, zero gratuity, and zero bonus obligation on their stipends. TMS registers your establishment on apprenticeship.gov.in, posts requirements, onboards apprentices, runs stipend payroll and files the reimbursement claim quarter on quarter.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): eligibility, stipend support and employer benefits

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the Directorate General of Training and the NSDC. It is the broad apprenticeship route, covering technical and non-technical roles across almost every sector, with the government contributing to the stipend. For companies hiring at scale, especially MSMEs, NAPS is usually the simplest place to start.

Who you can engage under NAPS

NAPS covers ITI-certified candidates, fresher apprentices and optional-trade candidates across both technical and non-technical work. Sectors range from retail, manufacturing and logistics to hospitality, BFSI and IT-enabled services. Apprenticeship terms run from six months to three years, which gives you room to match the training to the role.

Stipend and government support

The prescribed monthly stipend was revised in 2025 to a band of Rs 6,800 to Rs 12,300, depending on the trade and qualification. Under NAPS-2 the government pays 25% of the prescribed stipend, up to Rs 1,500 per apprentice per month, directly into the apprentice’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer. The employer pays the balance, so the net stipend cost is lower than a comparable regular hire.

Why employers use NAPS

Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 are not employees, so there is no employer Provident Fund (12%) or ESIC (3.25%) liability on the stipend. NAPS scales easily across non-technical roles, lets you build a steady talent pipeline, and carries no obligation to offer permanent employment at the end. You convert only the apprentices who prove themselves.

How registration works

The establishment registers on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in using its EPFO or ESIC number, posts apprenticeship requirements, engages apprentices, pays the monthly stipend and files claims through the portal. The portal workflow and the monthly compliance are exactly what TMS manages on your behalf.

Run byMinistry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (DGT / NSDC)
Registration portalapprenticeshipindia.gov.in
Who it is forITI-certified, fresher and optional-trade candidates (technical and non-technical)
Duration6 months to 36 months
Monthly stipendRs 6,800 to Rs 12,300 by qualification (revised 2025)
Government share25% of the stipend, up to Rs 1,500 per month, paid to the apprentice by DBT
Employer PF / ESICExempt under the Apprentices Act, 1961

Comparing schemes? See NATS vs NAPS or the NATS scheme.

Quick answers

Is NAPS only for ITI candidates?

No. NAPS covers ITI-certified candidates, but also fresher apprentices and optional-trade candidates in both technical and non-technical roles. That breadth is the main reason it suits sectors like retail, logistics and hospitality, not just manufacturing.

How much does the government contribute under NAPS?

Under NAPS-2 the government pays 25% of the prescribed stipend, capped at Rs 1,500 per apprentice per month, directly to the apprentice’s bank account by DBT. The employer pays the rest of the stipend.

How does an employer register for NAPS?

You register the establishment on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in using your EPFO or ESIC number, add the authorised signatory and basic company details, then post requirements and engage apprentices. TMS handles the registration, enrolment and monthly claims so your team does not have to learn the portal.

What TMS handles in NAPS

Apprenticeship portal registration

Your company registered on the national portal with DGT-approved trades and trade-wise apprentice strength.

Apprentice sourcing & onboarding

Requirements posted, candidates shortlisted from ITIs / colleges, contracts signed and registered on the portal.

Monthly stipend payroll

Stipends processed monthly per prescribed minimum, with PT/TDS handled where applicable and statutory deductions tracked.

25% reimbursement claim

Quarterly reimbursement filed via apprenticeship.gov.in for 25% of stipend (capped at ₹1,500/month per apprentice).

Training records

Logbooks, basic training records and on-the-job training reports maintained per DGT format for Apprenticeship Adviser audits.

Completion certification

Certificate of Proficiency filed with NCVT/SCVT for every apprentice on contract completion.

How a NAPS engagement runs

STEP 01

Brief

30-minute call to map roles, eligible trades and target apprentice volume.

STEP 02

Proposal

Scope: registration / sourcing / payroll / reimbursement. Per-apprentice fee. Within 48 hours.

STEP 03

Engagement

Monthly cycle — stipend pay, logbook maintenance, quarterly portal claim. SPOC + senior reviewer.

STEP 04

Completion

Certificate of Proficiency filed; many apprentices convert to permanent or contract staffing roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between NAPS and NATS?

NATS is under the Ministry of Education for engineering / diploma / sandwich-course apprentices. NAPS is under MSDE / DGT for ITI graduates, freshers and skill-based trades.

How much stipend is reimbursed under NAPS?

25% of the prescribed stipend, capped at ₹1,500/month per apprentice, reimbursed quarterly through the apprenticeship portal directly to the employer. For fresher (trade) apprentices, an additional one-time reimbursement of 50% of basic training cost (up to ₹7,500 per apprentice) is available.

Do I need to pay PF, ESI or gratuity on apprentice stipends?

No. Apprentices engaged under the Apprentices Act 1961 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 — this is typically the larger cost saving compared to a regular hire.

What is the minimum / maximum NAPS apprentice duration?

Minimum 6 months, maximum 2 years depending on trade. TMS tracks each apprentice’s tenure and files the Certificate of Proficiency on completion.

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For Employers
Run NAPS / NATS apprenticeships at your company
TMS handles registration, stipend reimbursement claims & full compliance — since 2006.
Talk to TMS →
For Candidates
Looking for an apprenticeship or job?
See current openings with TMS and our client companies across India.
View open roles →

NAPS Registration: Step-by-Step Employer Walkthrough (2026)

Most employers stall at the same point: they understand the scheme's benefits but not the portal mechanics. This walkthrough takes you through NAPS establishment registration on the official Apprenticeship India portal from first login to your first signed apprenticeship contract, followed by how the government's stipend support actually flows.

Before you start: documents and details to keep ready

Registration goes much faster if you assemble these before opening the portal:

  • Company PAN and GSTIN (or TAN, where applicable)
  • EPFO/ESIC registration numbers or LIN (Labour Identification Number) — the portal validates establishments against these identifiers
  • An Aadhaar-linked company bank account with cancelled cheque or bank details for verification
  • Details of the authorised signatory (name, designation, email, Aadhaar-linked mobile number for OTP verification)
  • Your total workforce strength — this determines your apprentice engagement band under the Apprentices Act
  • A list of the trades and roles you intend to engage apprentices in

NAPS employer registration: the steps in order

  1. Open the official portal. Go to apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and choose the registration option for an Establishment (not "Candidate"). Registration is free — no government fee applies at any stage.
  2. Create the establishment account. Enter the organisation's legal name as per PAN, the authorised signatory's details, and verify the email address and mobile number through OTP.
  3. Complete the establishment profile. Fill in industry sector, nature of business, registered address and total employee strength. Workforce strength matters: establishments with 30 or more employees are obligated to engage apprentices within a prescribed band of their workforce, so declare it accurately.
  4. Upload verification documents. Attach PAN, GSTIN/registration proof and EPFO/ESIC/LIN identifiers, and add the Aadhaar-linked bank account details. Mismatched names between PAN and the bank account are the most common cause of rejection — reconcile them first.
  5. Submit and await approval. The portal validates the establishment against government databases. Once approved, your establishment dashboard becomes active and you can operate the scheme end to end from it.
  6. Post apprenticeship opportunities. Create vacancy listings specifying the trade (designated or optional), location, duration and stipend on offer. Listings become visible to registered candidates nationwide.
  7. Source and shortlist candidates. Review applications on the portal, or source candidates directly from ITIs, polytechnics and colleges and link them using their Candidate IDs. Screening and interviews happen offline as normal.
  8. Generate and sign the apprenticeship contract. The portal generates the contract digitally; both the establishment and the apprentice sign electronically (Aadhaar-based verification). The contract is then registered with the apprenticeship authorities — training must not begin before this step is complete.
  9. Begin training and maintain records. Record attendance, pay the monthly stipend on time, maintain training logbooks and keep the portal updated. These records are the basis on which government support is released.

What happens after registration: the monthly and quarterly cycle

Once apprentices are on board, the scheme runs on a predictable rhythm. Each month, the employer pays the stipend directly to the apprentice and marks attendance on the portal. The government's share of the stipend support is then released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — flowing straight to the apprentice's Aadhaar-linked bank account once the employer's payment and attendance records are validated on the portal. This is a meaningful change from the older model, where employers claimed reimbursement after the fact: today, clean and current portal records are what keep the government share flowing.

In practical terms, the claim cycle looks like this:

  • Monthly: pay the employer share of the stipend, upload attendance and stipend-payment confirmation.
  • Quarterly: validation and processing of the government share; establishments engaging fresher apprentices may also claim support towards basic training costs, subject to scheme conditions.
  • On completion: apprentices undergo final assessment and receive their certification, and the establishment closes out the contract on the portal.

The failure mode to avoid is record drift: stipend paid but not logged, attendance updated late, or contracts running past their registered end date. Any of these can hold up the government share and create avoidable disputes with apprentices. Many employers hand this administrative layer — stipend payroll, portal upkeep and claim follow-through — to a partner, the same way they outsource statutory compliance. TMS manages this cycle end to end, and can also run blended workforces where apprentices sit alongside contract staff under one operating rhythm.

Frequently asked questions

How long does NAPS employer registration take?

If your documents are consistent (PAN, bank account and EPFO/ESIC identifiers all matching), account creation takes under an hour and portal approval typically follows within a few working days. The longer pole is usually internal: deciding trades, stipend structure and apprentice numbers before you post vacancies.

Is NAPS registration mandatory for my company?

Establishments with 30 or more employees fall under the mandatory apprenticeship engagement provisions of the Apprentices Act and must engage apprentices within the prescribed band of their workforce. Smaller establishments can participate voluntarily and still receive the scheme's benefits.

Do apprentices under NAPS attract PF, ESI or gratuity?

No. Apprentices engaged under a registered apprenticeship contract are trainees, not employees, so PF, ESI, gratuity and bonus obligations do not apply. This is one of the scheme's principal cost advantages — but it holds only while the contract is properly registered and the engagement genuinely follows the training framework.

Can I register on both the NAPS and NATS portals?

Yes, and many establishments should. NAPS (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) covers ITI passouts, freshers and trade apprentices; NATS (nats.education.gov.in) covers graduates and diploma holders in designated fields. The registrations are separate, and an establishment can run cohorts under both — see our other government scheme guides for how the two fit together.

Want NAPS handled without the portal learning curve? TMS registers your establishment, sources apprentices, runs stipend payroll and keeps the government share flowing — all under one SPOC. Contact us or call +91-22-4896-7640 for a NAPS consultation.

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