New Delhi, Delhi, 17th of July, 2026 : Reinforcing its commitment to expanding quality apprenticeship opportunities and strengthening youth employability in the North-Eastern Region (NER), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the Extension of the Special Intervention for Promotion of Apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region (NER) under the Prime Minister’s National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) for FY 2026–27, to be implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati. Building on the success of the pilot initiative launched in May 2025, the extended intervention aims to deepen apprenticeship penetration across all eight North-Eastern States, enhance participation of industry and government establishments, and create sustainable livelihood pathways for the region’s youth under the Skill India Mission.
The Ministry has expanded the scope of the intervention for FY 2026–27 with a higher target of 30,000 apprentices, an increase of around 15 per cent over the pilot phase. Of these, 15,000 apprentices will be supported for opportunities outside the North-East, including Government Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), while another 15,000 apprentices will be engaged within the region, including within their domicile States.
The Government has earmarked a financial outlay of ₹57.58 crore for the initiative during FY 2026–27. The allocation will be met through the North-Eastern Region component of PM-NAPS.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, said, “The North-Eastern Region is one of India’s greatest strengths, with a young, talented and aspirational population ready to contribute to the nation’s growth story. The remarkable success of the pilot initiative demonstrates that with the right opportunities and support, our youth can unlock their full potential. By extending this intervention under PM-NAPS, we are expanding access to quality apprenticeship opportunities, strengthening local ecosystems, encouraging industry participation, and enabling young people from the region to gain valuable workplace experience both within the North-East and across the country.”
The extended intervention also broadens the coverage of the additional financial incentive of ₹1,500 per month, over and above the support available under PM-NAPS. While the pilot primarily supported apprentices moving outside their domicile State, the revised initiative will now include apprentices engaged within their home States in the North-East.
In addition to financial assistance, the initiative will continue to focus on strengthening the apprenticeship ecosystem through workshops, awareness campaigns, employer engagement programmes and collaboration with educational institutions and industry stakeholders across the region.
The pilot initiative has delivered encouraging results within its first year. Against a target of 26,000 apprentices, the programme facilitated the engagement of 23,470 apprentices, achieving over 90 per cent of its target. Apprenticeship engagement in the region grew by 51 per cent, increasing from 15,562 in FY 2024–25 to 23,470 in FY 2025–26. The initiative also successfully promoted mobility, with 13,673 apprentices securing opportunities outside their domicile State while 9,797 apprentices were engaged within the North-East.
The pilot intervention witnessed encouraging growth in apprenticeship participation across the North-Eastern Region, with Meghalaya recording the highest increase of 95 percent. Women emerged as key beneficiaries, with a notable rise in female apprenticeship engagement. Employer participation also expanded significantly, with apprenticeship engagement through Government establishments doubling and private sector participation witnessing substantial growth.
By expanding access to industry-relevant training and employment opportunities, the initiative reaffirms the Government’s commitment to empowering the youth of the North-Eastern Region and accelerating inclusive growth through the Skill India Mission.
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