Shillong, Jul 17: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has extended the Special Intervention for Promotion of Apprenticeship in the North-Eastern Region (NER) under the Prime Minister’s National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) for FY 2026-27.
The initiative will be implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati. Building on the pilot launched in May 2025, the extended programme aims to increase apprenticeship opportunities across all eight Northeastern states and create sustainable livelihoods for youth under the Skill India Mission.
For FY 2026-27, the target has been increased by 15 per cent to 30,000 apprentices. Of these, 15,000 will be placed outside the region, including in government departments and PSUs, while 15,000 will be engaged within the region, including in their home states.
An official press release said, the government has earmarked ₹57.58 crore for the initiative. The scheme will also provide an additional financial incentive of ₹1,500 per month to apprentices, now extended to those working within their home states as well.
Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said the extension will expand access to quality apprenticeships, strengthen local ecosystems, and enable Northeastern youth to gain work experience both within the region and across the country.
The pilot phase achieved over 90 per cent of its target, engaging 23,470 apprentices against a goal of 26,000. Apprenticeship numbers in the region grew by 51 per cent.
Meghalaya recorded the highest growth at 95 per cent, while women’s participation and employer engagement also saw a significant rise.
The initiative will continue to focus on awareness campaigns, workshops, and industry collaborations to strengthen the apprenticeship ecosystem in the North East, the statement said.
