The Centre has expanded the PM-NAPS special apprenticeship initiative for the Northeast with a Rs 57.58 crore outlay, targeting 30,000 apprentices during FY 2026–27.
New Delhi/Imphal, July 17: The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has extended its special intervention under the Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) for the North-Eastern Region (NER) during the 2026–27 financial year, increasing the target to 30,000 apprentices and allocating Rs 57.58 crore to strengthen apprenticeship opportunities across the eight northeastern states.
The expanded programme, announced on Friday, will be implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, building on a pilot initiative launched in May 2025 under the Skill India Mission.
According to the ministry, the intervention aims to deepen apprenticeship participation, improve youth employability and encourage greater involvement of industries, government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) across the region.
The target has been increased by around 15 per cent from the pilot phase, with 30,000 apprentices expected to benefit during FY 2026–27.
Of the total, 15,000 apprentices will be placed in opportunities outside the Northeast, including government departments and PSUs, while another 15,000 will receive apprenticeship opportunities within the region, including in their home states.
The initiative will be funded through the North Eastern Region component of PM-NAPS. The ministry has also broadened the scope of the additional financial support available under the programme. Eligible apprentices will continue to receive an additional Rs 1,500 per month over and above the financial assistance already provided under PM-NAPS.
While the pilot phase primarily supported apprentices undertaking training outside their domicile state, the revised intervention will now extend the additional incentive to apprentices pursuing opportunities within their home states across the Northeast.
Besides financial assistance, the programme will include awareness campaigns, employer engagement initiatives, workshops and collaboration with educational institutions and industry stakeholders to strengthen the apprenticeship ecosystem.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said the North-Eastern Region has a young and aspirational population capable of contributing significantly to India's growth.
He said the encouraging response to the pilot programme demonstrated that expanding access to quality apprenticeship opportunities could help young people gain valuable workplace experience while strengthening local employment ecosystems and increasing industry participation.
The ministry said the pilot initiative produced encouraging results during its first year. Against a target of 26,000 apprentices, the programme facilitated apprenticeship opportunities for 23,470 candidates, achieving more than 90 per cent of its target. Overall apprenticeship engagement in the Northeast increased by 51 per cent, rising from 15,562 apprentices in FY 2024–25 to 23,470 in FY 2025–26.
The programme also promoted workforce mobility, with 13,673 apprentices securing placements outside their domicile states, while 9,797 apprentices were engaged within the Northeast.
Among the northeastern states, Meghalaya registered the highest increase in apprenticeship participation, recording 95 per cent growth during the pilot phase.
The ministry also noted a significant rise in the participation of women apprentices, while employer engagement expanded across both government establishments and the private sector. Apprenticeship engagement through government institutions doubled during the pilot, with private sector participation also recording substantial growth.
The extension of the initiative is expected to further strengthen industry-linked skill development and employment opportunities for youth across the Northeast while supporting the broader objectives of the Skill India Mission.
