Bridging Skills Gap, Building Careers: The Promise of NAPS Scheme

In the dynamic era of skill development, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is the driving force for exceptional opportunities in India. NAPS is an initiative launched by the Government of India to encourage skill development among individuals and enhance their future prospects. This innovative initiative emphasises bridging the gap between theoretical education and practical expertise, providing a unique platform for individuals to acquire significant skills required to make valuable contributions to the nation's workforce.

This article throws light on what is NAPS Scheme, Its benefits, its guidelines, the NAPS registration process, and much more. So let's delve into the article and discover how NAPS is enhancing India's workforce. 

What Is NAPS?

NAPS aims to maximise apprenticeship training that is beneficial for organisations registered under the scheme and for individuals seeking to gain work experience in a specific industry. Apprenticeship is a training that helps individuals to hone significant skills under the program. This training is provided to the individuals in their chosen sector utilising the facilities that are accessible in the respective industry. In the NAPS Apprenticeship, basic training and hands-on training are conducted which leads to the practical expertise of the specialised industry which in turn helps various organisations employ an industry-ready workforce.

In this scheme, the Government of India shares the cost of training and financially supports organisations that take on apprentices. The NAPS Skill India program allows apprenticeship training to utilise its maximum potential. The NAPS Scheme helps organisations cover the cost of training and impart professional experience to the apprentices. As a result, apprentices get training and acquire practical work experience that enables them to develop the essential skills required in various industries.

Furthermore, Skill India NAPS is beneficial for both organisations and apprentices. It also bridges the gap between industry demand for skilled employees and the employee pool, thus raising the nation's economic growth.

Decoding the Multifaceted Objectives of NAPS

The primary objective of the NAPS Scheme is to promote apprenticeship training across India by offering numerous advantages to both organisations and employees. 

• In the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, the apprenticeship expenses are shared by both the government and the organisation, so that the employer doesn't have to go through financial pressure. 
• NAPS Skill India aims at building the base of a skilled workforce, as apprenticeship is one of the most constructive ways to train and develop a candidate with practical work experience. 
• The program aims at helping individuals get first-hand exposure to the industry, and practice the acquired skills that will help individuals to be confident in their working environment. Additionally, the scheme will also accelerate training quality, employability, and experiential learning.
• With the program, the government aims at enhancing employment in India. The Government of India has collaborated with the United Arab Emirates which helps India readily deploy a certified workforce. 

How does NAPS benefit in creating opportunities for Aspiring Apprentices?

There are various benefits for an organisation enrolling under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. Apart from providing financial support to the organisations and helping in building an industry-ready workforce, the scheme has several other benefits. Let's explore some of the key benefits a company gets from enrolling under the NAPS scheme:

1. Flexibility: NAP Scheme provides organisations with the flexibility to assess their requirements for the workforce based on their demand. It enables them to swiftly respond to any workload change without having to feel pressure associated with the costs of hiring and firing its staff.
2. Cost-effective- Hiring apprentices through NAPS Portal is a cost-effective alternative for organisations, as they do not have to worry about the cost of training, recruitment, and other costs related to permanent hiring. The program also provides financial incentives to organisations that take on training.
3. Increased productivity- Apprentices through the NAPS helps in escalating productivity in the workplace, as apprentices learn and grow within their roles. They bring the latest perspectives and ideas to organisations that drive innovation and enhance processes while getting relevant practical experience.
4. Easy access to new talent- Staffing through the NAPS Portal provides companies with access to a range of talented individuals who are seeking to start their careers in several sectors and industries. This enables companies to meet a new source of talent and bring in fresh candidates with raw talent, which can be trained and deployed to the company's benefit.
5. Support from the government: This Scheme is a government initiative in which the government provides assistance and support to employers and apprentices to make their Apprenticeship successful.

Businesses capable of executing NAPS

For all industries incorporating a workforce of 30 or more employees (contractual and regular), NAPS has been made mandatory which means they have to enrol a minimum of 2.5% and a maximum of 15% individuals of their overall headcount. Organisations must have a few instructions to implement the scheme. These instructions include:

• The organisation shall engage apprentices in a group of 2.5% to 10% of the total count of the establishment.
• Organisations must be registered with EPFO/LIN/ ESIC/UDYOG AADHAR.
• Organisations must have a TIN number.
• Organisations must register on the NAPS Portal.
• Organisations must possess an aadhaar-linked bank account.
• The monotonous NAPS registration process can be seamlessly managed by Buzzworks – a NAPS facilitator that serves as your partner for enrolling in NAPS.

Guidelines For Implementation Of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

The Apprentices Act, 1961 was introduced with the aim of managing the program of training apprentices in the industry and providing them with on-the-job training. Here are the guidelines given by the government to implement the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme:

• The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, emphasises apprenticeship as one of the significant programs for producing skilled manpower in India. The policy proposes to dedicatedly work with industry including the MSME sector to promote and increase apprenticeship opportunities in the country by 2020.
• Apprenticeship Training includes Basic Training and On-the-Job Training/Practical Training in the industry. Basic training is a vital component of training for individuals who do not possess institutional training/skill training before starting on-the-job training/practical training.
• The Apprentices Act, 1961 makes it mandatory for organisations to involve individuals in both designated trades and in optional trades. Moreover, the Directorate General of Training under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship oversees the implementation of the program.

What is included in NAPS training?

The apprenticeship training includes Basic Training and On-the-job training/practical training at an organisation. 

Basic Training is provided to individuals who don't have any kind of prior training. In Basic Training, the government co-finances the basic training up to Rs 7,500 with the organisations.

On-the-job Training involves training individuals in a practical job environment so that they gain the skills necessary to excel in the industry. Moreover, the overall duration of the On-the-job training spans from 6 months to 36 months.

Further, the organisations are required by the Apprentices Act to impart apprenticeship training in designated and optional trades.

Your Guide to National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme Registration

This guide summarises the simple steps to National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme Registration, which opens doors to skill enhancement and a world of opportunities. Following are the steps for NAPS Registration and login on the portal :

1. Go to the official website of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
2. This will open the website home page 
3. On the home page select the Login/Register tab in the upper left corner
4. And in the drop-down menu, select the Establishment tab
5. An Establishment Login & Register page will open up
6. Now select the Register as an establishment tab
7. Now you will be redirected to a new page where you will have to fill out the Establishment Details including: 
   • Name of the Establishment
   • Establishment Type 
   • Registration Type 
   • PAN Number
   • Address 
   • Pin Code 
   • Name of the Contact Person
   • Mobile Number
   • Landline Number
   • STD Code
   • Official Email ID 
   • Confirm Email ID 
8. After that, you have to set a password and then confirm the password
9. At last click on the submit button to confirm your details

By following this procedure you can register yourself to NAPS Portal. 

How is Vision India Services Pvt Ltd serving as a bridge to connecting employers with eligible apprentices?

Vision India Services Pvt Ltd is one of the trusted Third-Party Agencies designated for the NAPS Scheme. As a TPA, Vision India's key role is to implement and monitor the training programs under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.

How does Vision India stand out?

1. Experience and Expertise: Vision India brings an abundance of experience and competency in skill development and apprenticeship training. With their robust background in the disciplines, they incor[orate the vital knowledge to effectively manage and execute NAPS.
2.  Extensive Network: Vision India has a rigid network of employers across industries. This network enables them to align apprentices with numerous job opportunities, ensuring a diverse range of apprenticeship options for aspiring candidates.
3. Technology-driven Solutions: Vision India makes use of advanced technology platforms to make the entire apprenticeship process smooth. Their state-of-the-art online portal streamlines registration, tracks progress, and enables communication between all the stakeholders, making the process more structured and transparent.
4.  Quality Assurance: Vision India maintains rigid quality assurance measures. It ensures that the scheme complies with the standards set by NAPS Scheme, encouraging industry-relevant training and ensuring the standard of the apprenticeship experience.
5. Compliance and Reporting: Vision India makes sure that employers and apprentices abide by the guidelines and regulations set by NAPS Scheme. They constantly monitor the progress of apprenticeship programs, giving valuable insights to the government for assessment and any updates.

Vision India Services Pvt Ltd, as a trusted TPA for National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, brings an extensive network, experience, technology-driven solutions, and an emphasis on quality assurance and abidance. Its competency and commitment make it an ideal solution for managing and implementing apprenticeship training under NAPS, carrying out the vision of producing a skilled and empowered workforce in India.

To Wind Up

The national Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme aims at building an industry-ready workforce by providing practical, on-the-job training for the youth of the nation. This Government of India initiative can prove to be instrumental in minimising the skills gap through an optimal balance of practical and theoretical experience.  

The scheme imparts a rewarding opportunity for young individuals to acquire real-time work experience and training, while organisations can benefit from a flexible and cost-effective workforce. With such advantages of the scheme, organisations can bring in new talent and navigate innovation and growth within their industries. Overall, NAPS stands as a mutually beneficial scenario for both organisations and apprentices, eliminating the skill gap and creating a proficient workforce in India.