The Finance Minister Hon’ble Madam Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman in her Consecutive Seventh Budget gave importance to the Apprenticeship Training Program stating that the Budget would prioritize employment, skilling, micro, small and medium enterprises, and the middle class. Among the nine stated priorities, employment and skilling are ranked second. Aligning with the Budget’s theme, the finance minister introduced five schemes—referred to as the Prime Minister’s package—for employment and skilling, with a total allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore over the next five years. These initiatives are expected to benefit 41 million youth. The current Budget has already allocated Rs 1.48 lakh crore towards education, employment and skilling, marking a 30 per cent increase from the previous allocation of Rs 1.13 lakh crore.

One of the five packages features a comprehensive scheme that offers internship opportunities in 500 top companies to 10 million youth over five years. Youth aged 21 to 24, who are neither employed nor engaged in full-time education, will be eligible to apply. The scheme includes a monthly internship allowance of Rs 5,000 and a one-time assistance of Rs 6,000.

Therefore, it is important for our students to know about NATS and its benefits for their career prospects. Usually, students from hilly regions (Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim) are unaware of those schemes and fall behind. Students who have recently completed their Graduation and Post-graduation can avail themselves of these benefits and a monthly stipend after working as an intern in some of the reputed organizations in India. They can stay ahead of those who are freshers. 

 So what is NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme?) 

The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme, a flagship programme from the Government of India aims at skilling India to meet future requirements. This scheme bridges the gap existing in the marketplace, between the employer’s requirement for an employee and the talent pool of students available in the market. It allows the organizations to recruit raw, technically qualified candidates, train them for one year with a subsidy from the Government of India and absorb them in regular roles if the need arises. The apprentices are governed solely by the Apprentices Act 1961. The organization engaging apprentices should possess the requisite infrastructure and trained managers to impart training to the apprentices. The National Apprenticeship Scheme thus helps in building a steady pool of talent, which is industry ready; to meet the Human Resources needs of an organization, at an optimum cost. The selection of apprentices is solely the prerogative of the employer.

The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme in India is a one-year programme equipping technically qualified youth with practical knowledge and skills required in their field of work. The Apprentices are imparted training by the organizations at their place of work. Trained Managers with well-developed training modules ensure that Apprentices learn the job quickly and competently. During the period of apprenticeship, the apprentices are paid a stipend amount, 50% of which is reimbursable to the employer from the Government of India. At the end of the training period, the apprentices are issued a Certificate of Proficiency by the Government of India which can be registered at all employment exchanges across India as valid employment experience. The apprentices are placed for training at Central, State and Private organizations which have excellent training facilities. The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India for Skilling Indian Youth.

What do NATS do?

Apprenticeship is a time-tested way of learning a craft or trade under a Master Craftsman through the ages. Apprenticeship Training Scheme is a scheme where young, technically qualified people undergo training under a Master Trainer to become equipped for jobs in the Modern Scenario. It has the double benefit of earning while learning. Apprenticeship is an agreement between a person (an apprentice) who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. The Apprentices are taught the latest applications, processes and methodologies in their respective fields of work from some of the most renowned organizations in India. This also acts as a transition phase for a school/college student from a classroom to a working background. The apprentice also learns soft skills, work culture, ethics and organizational behaviour while undergoing training. This goes a long way in helping him/ her secure permanent employment in the future. At the end of one year of training, they are issued a Certificate attesting to their training and proficiency in a particular field. This serves as an experience certificate when they seek employment after their training.

It is supported by Instituted by Boards of Apprenticeship Training / Practical Training Ministry of Education, Government of India.

How students can register in the NATS Portal

Students who are interested in Apprenticeship can simply register themselves by visiting the link given below https://nats.education.gov.in/student_register.php.  Documents required to register in the NATS portal

1.     Aadhaar Card

2.     Valid personal email ID (Will be required to activate account and log in)

3.     Mobile Number

4.     Passport size photo in jpg format less than 1 MB

5.     Aadhaar seeded bank account details

6.     Qualifying degree/certificate in pdf format less than 1 MB

7.     First page of bank passbook and bank statement in pdf format less than 1 MB.

Screenshot of Some of the organizations who offer NATS in Eastern Region

Mass media can disseminate information about NATS to a wide audience. Through news articles, television programs, radio shows, and online platforms, students can learn about the scheme, its benefits, and how to apply it. This widespread reach ensures that more students are informed about the opportunities available to them. By effectively utilizing mass media, we can ensure that students are well-informed about the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme and its potential benefits for their future careers. This awareness can help them make informed decisions, stay ahead in their professional journeys, and contribute positively to the workforce. The Scheme covers graduated students or students pursuing either of the following categories Graduate, Graduate Sandwich, Technician, Technician Sandwich, and Technician Vocational. Disciplines include Technical and engineering disciplines and shall be extended further to Commerce, Arts, Humanities, and Management domains.