In pursuance of the recommendations of the Scientific Manpower Committee, the Apprenticeship Training Scheme for Engineering Graduates and Diploma Holders in Engineering was introduced during post-independence era by the then Ministry of Education, Government of India, under a scheme which was known as Practical Training Stipendiary Scheme (PTS Scheme).    In this Scheme, a limited number of Graduates and Diploma holders in Engineering / Technology were placed in the Industries for Practical Training on a monthly Stipend.  The PTS Scheme was purely on voluntary basis and the stipend paid to the Apprentices were fully borne by the Government of India and the scheme was administered directly by Ministry of Education.

During the year  1973, the Apprentices Act, was amended to bring the training of the Graduates and Diploma holders in Engineering / Technology within its purview.

In 1986, the Apprentices Act was further amended (Apprentices Act, 1961 (Amendments)) to bring Higher Secondary (10+2) Vocational Certificate Holders under the purview of the Scheme. The new category of Apprentices are known as Technician (Vocational) Apprentices.  In addition to  Graduate & Technician apprenticeship Training Scheme, the implementation of Technician (vocational) Apprenticeship Training Scheme as also  entrusted to Regional Boards of Apprenticeship / Practical Training under Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and 94 Subject fields have been notified under this Scheme.

Provision of the Act :

The importance of industrialization was emphasised by the Government of India in order to provide job opportunities for the vast majority of the people and to achieve economic growth.  The various skills needed for the industries were identified.  In order to meet the requirements of the industries the Government of India decided to utilise the facilities available in the industries for training technicians and thus the Apprenticeship Training was envisaged and the Apprentices Act, 1961 was enacted in the Parliament during December 1961, to provide Practical Training to Pass-outs of Industrial Training Institutes to enhance their technical competency.  Central Apprenticeship Council was created to advise the Government to formulate Policies and Procedures.

Candidate's Eligibility :

Following are the eligibilities for students to be recruited for apprenticeship training:

• Candidates should have passed Degree in Engineering / Technology or Diploma in Engineering / Technology from the institutes approved by AICTE / Directorate of Technical Education of Concerned State and 10 + 2 Vocational passed out students from Higher Secondary Schools / Junior Colleges and Intermediate Education. 

• Candidate should not have undergone  Apprenticeship Training elsewhere.

• Candidate should not have work experience of one year or more.

• Candidate should not have completed three years after passing of the qualifying examination.

Recruitment Procedure :

The seats allotted by this board, are required to be filled through any source; either by contacting technical and vocational institutions of nearby area or releasing advertisement in newspapers or by approaching this board for list of candidates or participating in the centralised selections organized by this Board.

Sandwich Course :

Some technical institutions are conducting sandwich courses for degree & diploma engineering students. All establishments are required to recruit Students of these sandwich courses for 2-3 semesters for a total duration of 48 to 52 weeks in 2-3 spells when requested by these institutions or directed by this board. Contracts of these apprentices are also to be submitted to this board for registration as mentioned in para 6(a) above. Before accepting the contract paper from the industries, a College bonafide certificate must be obtained and submitted along with registration card.

Field of Engineering :

• List of Subject Fields in Engineering and Technology

• List of Designated Trades for the Vocational Apprentices

Period of  Training :

One Year.

Monthly Stipend :

The existing Monthly Stipend rates as recommended by the Central Apprenticeship Council, and notified by Government of India vide Notification No: GSR 375E    are as follows :

The Significance of the Apprenticeship Training Scheme is that the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Secondary & Higher Education, reimburses 50% of stipendiary amount t0o the Training Establishments through the respective Regional Boards.  However, the Training Establishments are at liberty to pay Stipend at higher rates that the minimum prescribed amount.

Survey and Notification :

The  Regional Central Apprenticeship Adviser of the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) locate the Industries for notification in the respective region to be covered under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act 1973 and 1986. The factors to be considered in exercise of powers conferred under sub-section(3A) of section(8) of the Apprenticeship Act 1961 as amended in 1973 and 1986 are given below:

• the number of technical persons deployed in an Industry / Organisation

• the training facilities available in an Industry / Organisation