The Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now the Ministry of Education) on February 27, 2019. The scheme is designed to provide industry apprenticeship opportunities to general graduates through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). SHREYAS aims to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements by integrating on-the-job training with mainstream higher education, specifically targeting non-technical degree courses.
Primary Objectives
- To improve the employability of students by introducing employment-relevant skills into the learning process of the higher education system.
- To forge a close, functional, and sustainable link between the education sector and the industry/service sectors.
- To provide dynamically demanded skills to students in a structured manner.
- To establish an ‘earn while you learn’ system within the Indian higher education framework.
- To assist the business industry in securing high-quality and trained manpower.
- To seamlessly link the student community with the employment-facilitating efforts of the Government of India.
Nodal Ministries and Collaboration
The SHREYAS scheme is a unique collaborative programme comprising the initiatives of three Central Ministries.
- Ministry of Education (MoE): Serves as the primary implementing and coordinating body, responsible for aligning educational institutions with the scheme.
- Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): Operates the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), which forms the operational backbone of the apprenticeship model.
- Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE): Integrates its National Career Service (NCS) portal with higher education institutions to facilitate job matching and career counseling.
The Three Tracks of Implementation
The scheme is implemented through three distinct operational tracks to ensure maximum coverage and flexibility for students and educational institutions.
Track 1: Add-on Apprenticeship (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Students currently completing their degree programmes are invited to choose a job role from a selected list provided by the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs).
- The apprenticeship period typically lasts for six months and is preceded by sector-specific basic theoretical training.
- Upon successful completion of the tenure, students undergo an assessment by the respective SSC and receive a skill certificate in addition to their standard academic degree.
Track 2: Embedded Apprenticeship
- Under this approach, existing Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) programmes are restructured into professional courses such as B.A. (Professional), B.Sc. (Professional), or B.Com. (Professional).
- These embedded courses include traditional educational inputs, vocational inputs, and a mandatory apprenticeship ranging from six to ten months, depending on the specific skill requirement.
- This track integrates the apprenticeship directly into the curriculum, making it a prerequisite for the award of the university degree.
Track 3: Linking National Career Service (NCS) with Colleges
- The National Career Service (NCS) portal, managed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is directly linked with the higher education institutions.
- This linkage facilitates a smooth transition for students from education to the job market by providing access to a vast database of employers, job fairs, and placement opportunities.
Target and Sectoral Scope
- The scheme initially aimed to cover 50 lakh students by the year 2022 across all three implementation tracks.
- It primarily focuses on non-technical students, specifically those pursuing Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), and Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degrees.
- The scheme is implemented across various high-demand economic sectors such as Banking Finance Insurance Services (BFSI), Retail, Healthcare, Logistics, Media, IT/ITeS, and Apparel, with provisions to add new sectors based on market demand.
Financial Support and Stipend Structure
- The scheme incorporates a mandatory stipend component to support the ‘earn while you learn’ philosophy and provide financial independence to students.
- During the apprenticeship period, the student receives a monthly stipend, which is generally around Rs. 6,000 per month, paid directly by the host industry.
- Under the NAPS framework, the Government of India reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend (subject to a maximum of Rs. 1,500 per month per apprentice) to all employers who engage these apprentices.
- The government also reimburses the cost of basic training (up to a limit of Rs. 7,500 for a maximum of 500 hours or 3 months) to Basic Training Providers (BTPs) for apprentices who require formal training before joining the shop floor.
Role of Key Stakeholders
- Educational Institutions: Higher education institutions are responsible for explaining the scheme to final-year students, registering them on the SHREYAS portal, and coordinating with industries for placements.
- Sector Skill Councils (SSCs): Autonomous industry-led bodies set up by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) that identify industries for apprenticeship, align the curriculum with National Occupational Standards (NOS), and conduct final assessments for certification.
- Employers and Industry: Private and public sector enterprises that provide the actual on-the-job training infrastructure, practical mentorship, and the monthly stipend to the apprentices.
Important Facts and Trivia for UPSC Prelims
- Portal Integration: The SHREYAS scheme utilizes a dedicated online portal that allows educational institutions and industries to log in and match demand and supply based on pre-specified eligibility criteria.
- NAPS Dependency: The operational success of SHREYAS relies heavily on NAPS, which legally mandates establishments to engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of their total workforce.
- Certification Authority: The final skill certification is awarded by the respective Sector Skill Council (SSC) under MSDE, functioning independently from the university granting the academic degree.
- Nomenclature Distinction: Aspirants must distinctly separate this scheme from the “SHREYAS Scheme for SC/OBC/EBC,” which is operated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and focuses solely on higher education scholarships, fellowships, and free coaching.