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Key Points

The Central Apprenticeship Council is preparing groundbreaking reforms to transform India's skill development landscape. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary will lead a crucial meeting aimed at introducing digital apprenticeship modes and expanding opportunities for youth. Currently, over 43.47 lakh apprentices are engaged across India, with plans to increase support for women, persons with disabilities, and northeastern regions. The initiative represents a significant step towards creating a more dynamic and inclusive economic ecosystem for India's young workforce.

Key Points: Jayant Chaudhary's Bold CAC Reforms to Skill India's Youth

  • CAC meeting to introduce digital apprenticeship modes
  • Expanding opportunities for youth across diverse regions
  • Increasing stipends and support for underserved groups
  • Launching special North Eastern Region apprenticeship scheme
2 min read

CAC meet to drive bold apprenticeship reforms: Jayant Chaudhary

Upcoming Central Apprenticeship Council meeting set to transform India's apprenticeship ecosystem with digital modes and global opportunities

"A catalyst to unlock greater flexibility, global linkages, and institutional coherence - Jayant Chaudhary"

New Delhi, May 25

As India prepares its youth for a dynamic and inclusive economy, the upcoming Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s skilling and apprenticeship framework, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) said on Sunday.

Ahead of the meeting on May 26, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, said the meeting will be a “catalyst to unlock greater flexibility, global linkages, and institutional coherence” in apprenticeship policies.

He added that it marks an important step towards achieving the vision of a ‘Kushal Bharat, Viksit Bharat’.

The Council was reconstituted in October 2024, with Jayant Chaudhary as its Chairman. It advises the government on major policies and strategies to improve apprenticeship training in India.

This will be the first CAC meeting since June 2021, and it comes at a time when the country’s apprenticeship ecosystem has seen significant growth.

Currently, over 43.47 lakh apprentices are engaged across 36 states and union territories, with active support from more than 51,000 establishments.

Outreach has expanded to cover a wide range of social groups and districts, while key programmes like PM-NAPS and NATS have helped align apprenticeship training with emerging sectors and technologies.

The 38th CAC meeting will focus on several key reforms. These include introducing digital and virtual modes of apprenticeship, integrating degree apprenticeships by formally recognising Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP), and allowing apprentices to gain global experience through deployments at client sites.

The Council will also discuss increasing stipend rates in line with inflation, and offering greater support to women, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and youth from the North Eastern Region (NER).

Another important agenda is the creation of new regional boards to strengthen institutional capacity.

Just days before the meeting, MSDE also launched a special Apprenticeship Scheme Pilot for the North Eastern Region in Aizawl, Mizoram.

In partnership with the Mizoram government, the initiative offers an extra Rs 1,500 monthly stipend to over 26,000 youth from the region, in addition to standard NAPS benefits.

The Rs 43.94 crore project is being implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) Guwahati and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

This initiative is designed to increase apprenticeship participation in underserved areas and help local youth become industry-ready through better access to skill-building.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some focus on digital apprenticeships! 👏 India's youth need tech-forward opportunities to compete globally. Hope they also address the quality gap - many current apprenticeships are just cheap labor in disguise. The NE region focus is much needed though.
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Priya M.
As someone from Mizoram, I welcome the extra stipend initiative. But implementation is key - hope the funds actually reach beneficiaries. Many schemes fail at last mile delivery. Also, degree apprenticeships could be game-changing if properly recognized by employers.
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Amit S.
Good steps but need more industry-academia collaboration. Companies still prefer 'experienced candidates' over apprentices. Government should mandate apprenticeship hiring quotas in private sector too. #SkillIndia
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Neha T.
The global exposure part excites me! Indian youth deserve world-class training opportunities. But will small businesses be able to participate equally? Hope this doesn't become another urban-centric program leaving rural India behind.
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Sanjay R.
₹1500 extra stipend is peanuts in today's inflation. Should be at least ₹3000 to make real difference. Still, better than nothing. Apprenticeship embedded degrees could reduce education-loan burden if executed well. Waiting to see concrete outcomes.
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Kavita P.
As a woman who did apprenticeship in auto sector, I faced many challenges. Glad they're focusing on women support - but need safe hostels, transport and strict anti-harassment policies. The intentions sound good, hope execution matches up!

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