The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today convened a national review meeting of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSUs) at the Skill Building in New Delhi. The main aim was to strengthen apprenticeship engagement across various public‑sector undertakings and to establish apprenticeship as a primary pathway from learning to livelihood
The review stressed that apprenticeship should not be seen merely as a ‘fallback’ option when no other route is available, but as a reliable and attractive pathway. It combines classroom learning with practical workplace experience, enabling youth to acquire industry‑relevant skills and be fully job‑ready
Emphasising the need to shift focus from sheer scale to concrete outcomes, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said: “Apprenticeship must become a primary and appealing route from learning to livelihood. As the ecosystem grows, our focus should be on what apprenticeship enables young people to become, not just on trainee numbers. CPSUs can act as catalysts by expanding quality opportunities, increasing participation of women and under‑represented groups, and creating robust pathways to decent employment. Our collective success will ultimately be measured by apprenticeship completion, certification, job acquisition, workplace entry and retention.”
Under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS‑2), the apprenticeship ecosystem has achieved notable expansion. From FY 2022‑23 to 22 September 2026, 47,452 active establishments have engaged 44.75 lakh trainees. Alternative occupations accounted for 76.27 percent of total apprenticeship engagement, reflecting the growing importance of apprenticeship pathways that are robust and aligned with employer needs
During the review, all CPSUs were urged to bridge the gap between apprenticeship potential and the actual number of trainees enrolled. To this end, each enterprise must develop practical recruitment plans matching the mandatory apprenticeship requirement of 2.5 percent to 15 percent. Enterprises were encouraged to verify workforce and portal data, prepare a time‑bound recruitment action plan, monitor its implementation and appoint senior‑level nodal officers to address emerging challenges
The national review underscored the collective responsibility of CPSUs, states and other stakeholders to strengthen apprenticeship as a key component of India’s skill and employment ecosystem. The goal is to provide youth with meaningful pathways to workplace experience, industry‑relevant skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities