How to Apply for NAPS-2 — Up to ₹1,500/Month Stipend Support for Apprentices

NAPS-2 does not run a competitive selection round. The scheme guidelines lay out no shortlisting or screening process for establishments — participation is driven by the incentive on offer, and employers engage apprentices directly. The steps that do exist are procedural:

• The candidate registers on the apprenticeship portal.
• The candidate updates their Aadhaar number, completes e-KYC and clears mobile OTP authentication.
• The establishment issues an apprenticeship contract to a candidate who has completed that registration.
• Government stipend support then flows to the eligible apprentices engaged through this route.

Training happens under two categories of trade. Designated Trades (DT) are notified by the Central Government and span fields such as engineering and vocational courses. Optional Trades (OT) are decided by the employer according to its own requirements. Apprenticeship duration differs from one trade to another.