Background:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has issued amendments to the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 to improve the framework for apprenticeship training across sectors.

• Rule 2 – Definitions expanded:
  The amendments introduce new clauses to the definition section:

• • Clause (1B): “degree apprenticeship” is defined as “a course having apprenticeship as an integrated component of the curriculum.”
  • Clause (6B): “Institution” means a college imparting a degree or diploma course approved by the University or Board.
  • Clause (6C): “Regional Centre” is defined as the Regional Board at locations other than those specified in clause (mm) of section 2 of the Act.
  • Clause (9A): “contractual staff” means any person employed as contract labour under applicable laws.
  • Clause (9B): “person with benchmark disability” is defined as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• Rule 3 – Eligibility criteria for apprentices:
  • Sub-rule (2) is replaced to specify that graduate, degree, technician, or technician vocational apprentices must meet minimum educational qualifications listed in Schedule IA.
  • The proviso is expanded by inserting clause (ba), which states:
    “(ba) no degree apprentice shall be eligible for being engaged as an apprentice under the Act after passing the final examination of the technical institution or institution wherein such student is undergoing the course unless so approved by the Apprenticeship Adviser or Regional Central Apprenticeship Adviser as the case may be.”
• Rule 5 – Reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities:
  Sub-rule (3) is inserted specifying that training places suitable for persons with benchmark disabilities must be reserved as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Unfilled seats may be allocated to persons meeting minimum physical fitness standards as per Schedule II.
• Rule 6 – Employer obligations and terms:
  Sub-rule (2) is substituted to define that obligations of employers and apprentices must be as specified in Schedule V, and terms and conditions for various apprentices are as per Schedule VI.
• Rule 7 – Practical training period for Sandwich and Degree Apprenticeship students:
  Clause (b) in sub-rule (4) is substituted as:
  “(b) In the case of Sandwich Course and Degree Apprenticeship students, the period of practical training, they undergo as part of apprenticeship course of studies shall be the period of apprenticeship training.”
• Rule 7A – Reservation and training conditions:
  • Sub-rule (5A) inserted requiring employers to reserve training places for persons with benchmark disabilities in optional trades.
  • Sub-rule (14) is substituted to prescribe terms and conditions for apprentices possessing relevant degrees or diplomas.
• Rule 7B – Apprentices engagement ratio:
  Sub-rule (3) is substituted to define that establishments must engage apprentices between 2.5% to 15% of total strength, including contractual staff, with specific provisions for fresher apprentices and skill certificate holders.
• Rule 7D – Minimum gap between training and re-engagement:
  A new rule is inserted to prescribe:
  • A minimum one-year gap between two training periods, with exceptions for termination by the employer.
  • A three-month waiting period for apprentices re-entering due to health, financial hardship, relocation, or other reasons, excluding women.
  • A maximum of two apprenticeship training periods per person, with restrictions on the same trade.
  • Stipend payments to be borne by the Central Government only for the first-time training.
  • Restrictions on apprentices re-entering training in case of contractual failures.
• Rule 11 – Stipend structure:
  Sub-rule (1) is substituted to define minimum stipend rates per month based on education qualification as per the following table:

• Rule 14 – Registration and reporting:

• Sub-rule (1) is substituted to state that contracts must be registered on the portal site by employers or institutions as applicable.
• Sub-rule (4) is substituted to mandate quarterly reporting by employers using Form Apprenticeship 3.

• Schedule IA – Qualification for Degree Apprentices:
  Serial number 4 added specifying eligibility as per AICTE or UGC norms.
• Schedule III – FORMAT-1 substitution:
  The existing Format-I is substituted with a new Model Contract of Apprenticeship for Major or Minor Apprentices. The detailed format is provided in the official gazette and includes fields covering apprentice details, educational background, stipend, and declaration.
• Schedule IV – Qualification standards:
  Paragraph 2 is substituted to mandate that Degree and Graduate apprentices hold recognized degrees or equivalent qualifications.
• Schedule V – Employer obligations:

Sub-paragraphs added to require employers to provide online or blended training and define terms for deployment at client locations with additional compensation obligations.

• Schedule VI – Terms and conditions:

• The heading is updated to reflect all categories of apprentices.
• Amendments in paragraphs specify working hours, inclusion of Apprenticeship Adviser roles, and responsibilities of institutions including compliance reporting and monitoring.