The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) convened a consultative workshop to scale apprenticeship uptake in micro, small and medium enterprises, aligning the effort with the Viksit Bharat workforce vision. The event sought to translate India’s apprenticeship policy framework into wider on-ground adoption by addressing barriers faced by smaller firms. Organisers outlined practical pathways to strengthen links between training and employment.

Deliberations examined the operational realities of MSME apprenticeship participation, low awareness and perceived compliance complexity that deter employer engagement. The forum assessed cluster-based consortia, earn-while-you-learn schemes and work-integrated learning, and reviewed the role of Group Training Organisations (GTOs) as a collective hosting mechanism. While the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has grown, apprenticeship uptake remains concentrated among larger firms, with 94 per cent of MSME apprentices in private establishments.

The MSDE Secretary said that India’s youth have considerable potential and that stronger connections between learning and work are needed to convert skills into employment, adding that apprenticeships can bridge the gap. She noted that MSMEs are a backbone of the economy and argued that simpler, more practical apprenticeship arrangements could create opportunities for hundreds of thousands of young people while helping enterprises to access skilled talent. Participants identified priority challenges and actionable levers to accelerate MSME participation.

Stakeholders co-designed near-term pilot initiatives with defined success metrics and set out a roadmap distinguishing immediate interventions from longer-term reforms, including targeted incentives and social security measures under NAPS. The consultation explored the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) and Work-Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) and considered guidelines for online and virtual apprenticeship delivery to widen access. The Sub-Committee on Promotion of Inclusion and MSME Participation in Apprenticeship Training under the 38th Central Apprenticeship Council reviewed measures to boost participation by women, persons with disabilities, SC, ST and OBC groups and those from remote areas. The meeting was attended by senior MSDE officials including N.K. Sudhanshu and V.S. Arvind together with policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners.