Maharashtra Apprenticeship Reimbursement Scheme (MAPS) — 50% Stipend Support

The Maharashtra Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (MAPS) is a state subsidy that pays industries back for part of what they spend on apprentice stipends. It is provided for under Section 4.1.3 (B) (i) of the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025 and is administered by the Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra.

The idea behind it is straightforward. On-the-job training costs an employer real money every month, and the state wants more of it to happen. By refunding a share of that outlay — up to 50% of apprenticeship costs, capped at ₹5,000 per apprentice per month, for as long as 3 years per apprentice — MAPS makes it cheaper for a factory, workshop or industrial unit to keep apprentices on the floor and train them properly.

The scheme is not just an employer incentive. It is also a skill-building measure: the more structured training places Maharashtra's industries create, the steadier the supply of job-ready workers into the state's industrial sectors, and the better the employment prospects for young people entering them.

There is no fixed application window. Claims run on a rolling basis through the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025, and the entire process — from first look at the guidelines to final disbursal — happens through official state channels, with the Maitri portal as the entry point.

• Reimburses up to 50% of apprenticeship costs
• Capped at ₹5,000 per apprentice per month
• Claimable for up to 3 years (36 months) per apprentice
• Open to industries in Maharashtra running structured on-the-job training
• Rolling applications — no fixed deadline
• Cash subsidy, paid to the industry's registered bank account; no equity taken

MAPS is written for industries that operate in Maharashtra and run structured on-the-job training for apprentices. The applicant is the employer, not the apprentice.

• The unit must be an industry located and working in Maharashtra.
• It must actually run a structured on-the-job training programme, rather than informal or ad-hoc work assigned to trainees.
• The apprenticeship arrangements must be documented and the stipend payments traceable, because both are examined during verification.

DPIIT startup recognition is not listed anywhere among the scheme's conditions. What matters is the industry's location and its apprenticeship activity. When a claim is filed, the business's registration is typically evidenced through Udyam Registration and GSTIN.

Maharashtra Apprenticeship Reimbursement Scheme (MAPS) — 50% Stipend Support is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Maharashtra Apprenticeship Reimbursement Scheme (MAPS) — 50% Stipend Support accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Support under MAPS comes as a cash reimbursement against apprenticeship spending you have already incurred. It is a subsidy, so the government takes no shares or ownership stake in your business in return.

• Up to 50% of your apprenticeship cost is refunded.
• The refund is capped at ₹5,000 per apprentice per month.
• You can claim for up to 3 years (36 months) per apprentice.
• The approved amount is credited to the industry's registered bank account.

Because the ceiling is applied per apprentice rather than per company, the benefit is tied directly to how many apprentices you train and for how long. The longer an apprentice stays on and the more apprentices you engage, the more of your training spend the scheme can absorb — which is what makes a multi-year apprenticeship programme financially workable for an industrial unit.

In practical terms, the reimbursement eats into the recurring cost of stipends and reduces the expense of hiring and training fresh workers, without requiring the business to give up equity or repay anything.

Maharashtra Apprenticeship Reimbursement Scheme (MAPS) — 50% Stipend Support is offered by Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

A claim under MAPS is not cleared automatically on submission. Each application goes through a review by a dedicated committee or department within the Government of Maharashtra.

During that review, the authorities verify the authenticity of the apprenticeship programme, the validity of the apprenticeship agreements, and the accuracy of the stipend payments reported in the claim. They also confirm that the applying industry meets the eligibility conditions set out in the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025, with compliance on structured on-the-job training examined closely.

If documentation is incomplete or figures do not match, the claim may be sent back with a request for further information — or rejected. Careful preparation of the claim file is therefore worth the effort.

Once verification is complete and the claim is approved, the eligible reimbursement amount is disbursed directly into the industry's registered bank account as per the scheme's terms.

Before you apply to Maharashtra Apprenticeship Reimbursement Scheme (MAPS) — 50% Stipend Support, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.