North East Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme Launched to Boost Youth Skilling and Employment

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today launched the North East Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme in Aizawl, Mizoram.

The scheme was jointly unveiled by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma.

Aimed at firming apprenticeship training in the North Eastern Region (NER), the initiative will offer structured, paid, and high-quality apprenticeship opportunities to over 26,000 youth, who will also receive an additional 1,500 per month for one year on top of the regular National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) stipend. A total budget of Rs.43.94 crore has been allocated for the pilot.

Key Highlights:

Apprentices will receive financial support regardless of whether they train within or outside the NER. The initiative aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Ashta Lakshmi and Viksit Bharat, Viksit North East. Implementation will be led by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), with support from State Skill Missions and local institutions.

At the launch event, Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the scheme's transformative potential for youth, calling it a "bridge to employment" that ensures real-world industry exposure. He also emphasised the region’s leadership in women-led empowerment noting higher female participation in apprenticeship programs.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma welcomed the initiative, calling it a "gateway for Mizoram’s youth to access national opportunities through practical, employment-oriented training."

A significant moment of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSDC and Welspun Living Limitedto roll out an apprenticeship-linked skilling program in the textile sector. 

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Under this, 1,000 youth with at least 50 percent women participation—will experience blended training including classroom and on-the-job modules at Welspun’s Gujarat facilities. 

Successful candidates will be guaranteed placement and jointly certified by NSDC and Welspun.

Moreover, a presentation was made on the recently approved National Scheme for ITI Upgradation, with a Rs. 60,000 crore outlay to modernize 1,000 government ITIs across India using a hub-and-spoke model, with a strong focus on the North East.

Senior dignitaries including Ministers from Mizoram and Nagaland, as well as officials from MSDE, attended the event. The North East Apprenticeship Pilot is positioned as a scalable, region-specific model that supports India's march toward a future-ready, globally competitive workforce.