The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recently announced that the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) will now be part of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework, ensuring direct governmental benefits to all apprentices.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Plan (NAPS)
Launched in 2016, NAPS is aimed at promoting nationwide apprenticeship training and extending financial support to institutions providing such opportunities. It assists apprenticeship programs and contributes to realizing the Skill India initiative’s objectives. The plan encourages employers to engage apprentices, aiding them in identifying suitable job roles and nurturing their potential through comprehensive skill development. As of now, more than 12 lakh apprentices are working in different sectors.
In previous practices, employers paid the entire stipend to apprentices before seeking reimbursement from the government. Now, under the DBT scheme, the government will directly deposit its share—up to Rs. 1500 per month or 25 percent of the payable stipend—into the apprentices’ bank accounts through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Promoting Apprenticeships: Key Initiatives
Several initiatives have been launched to boost apprenticeship programs:
1. Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)
2. Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement Scheme
3. YuWaah Youth Skilling Initiative
4. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Framework
Introduced on January 1, 2013, the DBT framework aims to enhance the government’s delivery mechanism and redesign processes in welfare schemes by making the flow of funds and information quicker, safer, and with reduced frauds. The DBT model enables direct transfer of subsidy amounts and other payments into beneficiaries’ accounts rather than delivering them to government offices.
Three key enablers of the DBT scheme—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile, popularly known as JAM—have collectively provided a unique opportunity to implement DBT across all welfare schemes in the country. Presently, there are more than 22 crore Jan Dhan accounts, over 100 crore Aadhaar cards, and approximately 100 crore mobile connections in India.
The DBT model promotes efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in governmental systems and reinforces citizens’ confidence in governance. The use of modern technology and IT tools will help achieve the idea of ‘Maximum Governance Minimum Government.’
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
In the 2018 UPSC exams, the following questions were asked about the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
– Is it the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment?
– Will it also provide training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy?
– Does it aim to align the competencies of the country’s unregulated workforce to the National Skill Qualification Framework?
The correct answer was options 2 and 3 only. PMKVY is a flagship scheme for youth skill training implemented by MSDE, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment, via NSDC. Therefore, the first statement is incorrect. The scheme does focus on developing soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial, and digital literacy. It also aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce with the NSQF, making the last two statements correct.
