Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has published a notification further amending the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, on 11^th September 2025.

Here are the key amendments at a glance:

1. “Degree apprenticeship” has been defined as ‘a course having apprenticeship as an integrated component of the curriculum.’

2. No degree apprentice shall be eligible for being engaged as an apprentice under the Act after passing the final examination of a technical institution or an institution wherein such student is undergoing the course, unless so approved by the Apprenticeship Adviser or Regional Central Apprenticeship Adviser, as the case may be.

3. The term “Institution” has been defined as ‘a college imparting a degree or diploma course approved by the University or Board.’

4. Provisions have been made for the reservation of training places for persons with benchmark disability in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. However, if the training places cannot be filled with persons with benchmark disabilities, then the training places lying unfilled may be filled by persons having minimum standards of physical fitness specified in Schedule II of the Apprenticeship Rules.

5. If the prescribed minimum reservation of 5% for freshers and skill certificate holders cannot be filled, then the vacant positions can be filled by other categories of apprentices with the approval of the apprenticeship advisor.

6. There shall be a minimum of one year’s gap between two apprenticeship trainings. However, no gap is required if the termination of the previous training is due to failure on the part of the employer.

7. If the previous apprenticeship contract has been terminated by the apprentice due to reasons such as health, financial hardship, relocation, transportation, career changes, or language barrier, the waiting period of three months shall apply before the apprentice enters into another contract of apprenticeship with the same employer or any other employer. However, this waiting period shall not be applicable to women.

8. A person may undergo a maximum of two apprenticeship trainings, and the second training shall not be in the same trade.

9. There shall be no stipend support from the Central Government for the second training.

10. If the apprenticeship contract is terminated for failure on the part of the apprentice to carry out the terms of the contract, the apprentice shall not be entitled to enter into another contract of apprenticeship with any other employer.

11. The minimum rate of stipend payable per month has been revised as follows:

Sl. No	Category	Minimum amount of stipend per month
1	School pass-outs (class 5th– class 9th)	Rs. 6,800/-
2	School pass-outs (class 10th)	Rs. 8,200/-
3	School pass-outs (class 12th)	Rs. 9,600/-
4	National or State Certificate holder	Rs. 9,600/-
5	Technician (vocational) apprentice or Vocational Certificate holder or Sandwich Course (Students from Diploma Institutions)	Rs. 9,600/-
6	Technician apprentices or diploma holder in any stream or sandwich course (students from degree institutions)	Rs. 10,900/-
7	Graduate apprentices or degree apprentices or degree in any stream	Rs. 12,300/-

12. For degree apprentice and sandwich course students, the contract as per Format-I will be entered between the institution, apprentice, and the employer, and shall be forwarded on the portal site by the employer for registration. The institution is also now responsible for:

• Contract compliance

• Related compliance on the portal

• Monitoring and evaluation of the apprenticeship program

• Keeping the apprenticeship advisor informed about any visit to the establishment

13. A revised format for the Model Contract of Apprenticeship Training for Major or Minor Apprentices has been introduced.

14. All India Council (AICTE) and UGC have been recognised with respect to degree and graduate apprentices in Schedule IV.

15. Provisions have been introduced for imparting training through online, virtual, electronic, or blended modes. Such training shall be only between 8 AM and 6 PM. Any relaxation to this time has to be approved by the Apprenticeship Advisor.

16. An establishment may deploy only a major apprentice during the practical training period in a client location by paying additional compensation.

17. The employer alone shall pay the stipend to the apprentice for the period of training in a client location, and no cost of stipend shall be borne by the Central Government.