National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) Dropouts

The number of dropouts from the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has increased significantly over the past five years, surpassing the growth rates for enrolments and training completions. This trend is evident from government data.

Key Statistics from NAPS

• Dropouts increased from 27,183 in FY21 to 425,080 in FY26.
• Dropout rates rose from 9% in FY21 to 35% in FY26.
• Apprentices engaged grew from 307,779 in FY21 to 1.21 million in FY26.
• Training completions increased from 214,959 in FY21 to 626,379 in FY26.

Implications

The gap between apprentices engaged and those completing training is widening. In FY21, nearly 70% of apprentices completed their training, whereas, in FY26, this fell to just over 50%. The rapid expansion in enrolments has not been matched by completion rates.

Scheme Details

Launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), NAPS aims to expand apprenticeship opportunities and enhance industry participation under the Apprentices Act. It offers financial support to establishments, reimbursing part of the stipend paid to apprentices, combining on-the-job learning with classroom instruction.

Challenges and Policy Discussions

• Weak outcomes in India’s skilling ecosystem, particularly low certification and completion rates, have been a concern.
• Policy analysts and bodies like NITI Aayog note significant participation but low completion, affecting employability.
• In Parliament, issues regarding the skilling programmes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), have been raised.
• Under PMKVY, only 21.96% of the 11.1 million certified candidates were placed in jobs as of December 2025.