The recently launched strategic pilot scheme to promote apprenticeship training in the North Eastern Region (NER) reaffirms the Centre's commitment to inclusive growth and regional empowerment.
The scheme was launched in Aizawl by Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary and
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma jointly.
Anchored in PM Modi’s vision of Ashta Lakshmi and Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East, the initiative aims to provide structured, paid, and high-quality apprenticeship opportunities to youth across the region.
As a key financial support measure, over 26,000 youth from the region will receive an additional Rs.1,500 per month for one year under the pilot initiative—over and above the regular stipend provided through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
The support is applicable for apprentices from the North East Region undertaking training both within and outside the North East, ensuring that mobility does not become a barrier to accessing opportunity. A total of Rs.43.94 crore has been earmarked for the pilot initiative, including Rs.4 crore for outreach, capacity building, and project implementation.
Speaking at the launch, Chaudhary, said this special pilot initiative under NAPS marks a defining moment for apprenticeship promotion in the North East. It opens the doors of real industry exposure for our youth—allowing them to step onto the factory floor, understand the dynamics of contemporary industry, and align their skills with real-world demand. For the industry, it offers a transparent mechanism to engage with and evaluate talent early. This is not just a training pathway—it is an accessible, open bridge to employment.
Chaudhary said that he wanted to highlight a particularly powerful dimension - the central role of women in this journey.
The North East, with its unique cultural ethos, has always stood tall in championing women-led empowerment. At the policy level too, we are committed to reinforcing this. The data emerging from the NAPS implementation in the region clearly reflects higher female participation—turning the North East into a beacon of hope for gender-responsive skilling across India.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma hoped that this collaboration with the Government of India will open new doors for the youth of Mizoram and the wider North East. With financial support, quality training, and strong industry linkages, this initiative empowers our young citizens to find their rightful place in India’s evolving economic landscape—whether here in the North East or across the country.
The scheme is expected to give strong encouragement to the youth of the distant region and also the governments in the NE states to promote practical, flexible, and employment-oriented skills that equip people to succeed with strength and dignity.
The implementation will be taken care of by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), supported by State Skill Missions, Regional Directorates (RDSDEs), and local institutions.
The pilot initiative builds upon India’s broader apprenticeship success. Since 2016, NAPS has facilitated more than 42 lakh apprenticeship engagements across the country.
The introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has enabled transparent and timely disbursal of over Rs.870 crore directly into apprentices’ accounts since 2022. Over 35,000 establishments have participated in apprenticeship engagement, supported by more than 5,000 Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) held nationwide.
The North East Apprenticeship Pilot initiative represents a scalable model for high-impact, region-specific skilling interventions—rooted in local needs, aligned with industry demand, and powered by inter-state mobility.
The event saw exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Welspun Living Limited to operationalise a high-impact pilot initiative for apprenticeship-linked skilling in the textile sector.
The objective of the partnership is to build a future-ready workforce for operator roles, with a focus on inclusive participation—ensuring that at least 50% of the trained candidates are women.
Under the pilot initiative, 1,000 youth will be trained over the next year through a blended training model comprising 120 hours of classroom instruction and 210 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) at Welspun’s state-of-the-art facilities in Anjar and Vapi, Gujarat.
Welspun will lead curriculum design, training delivery, and guaranteed captive placement for successful candidates, while NSDC will support mobilisation, pre-screening, digital onboarding via the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), and funding of classroom training. Upon completion, candidates will receive joint certification from NSDC and Welspun, significantly enhancing their employability.
The event also featured a detailed presentation on the recently approved National Scheme for ITI Upgradation, which has a total outlay of Rs.60,000 crore and aims to modernise 1,000 government ITIs across the country through a hub-and-spoke model.
It highlighted as to how the North Eastern Region can strategically benefit from this transformative scheme by upgrading existing ITI infrastructure, aligning training with emerging industry requirements, and fostering state–industry partnerships.
As India marches toward becoming a $5 trillion economy, the Government remains steadfast in its mission to create a future-ready, globally competitive workforce. Through this initiative, the North East emerges not only as a participant but as a leader in India’s skills transformation journey.