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Government of India · National Apprenticeship Program
Hire Apprentices.
Government Pays 50%.
You Save More.
Reduce your operational cost by hiring trained apprentices — the Government of India reimburses 50% of the prescribed stipend directly. Vikataestate manages the entire process for you.
Govt pays ₹4,500 per apprentice / month
2.5% to 18% of your total workforce
NATS / NAPS certified program
Zero compliance burden on you
Govt. Rate
₹9,000
Prescribed stipend per apprentice / month
Govt. Pays
₹4,500
50% reimbursed by Government of India
You Pay
₹4,500
Your actual cost per apprentice / month
Quota
2.5–18%
Of total employees eligible as apprentices
How the program works
Simple 5-Step Process
From registration to reimbursement — Vikataestate handles every step. You just get skilled, low-cost workforce.
1
Register on NATS / NAPS
Company & apprentice registered on Govt. portal
2
Select apprentices
Vikataestate provides pre-screened candidates
3
Training begins
Structured on-the-job + classroom training
4
Pay ₹9,000 stipend
Employer pays full ₹9,000 initially
5
Govt. reimburses 50%
₹4,500 credited back by Govt. of India
Stipend breakdown
Who Pays What
The total government-prescribed apprentice stipend is ₹9,000/month. The cost is shared equally between the employer and the Government of India.
Government of India
Pays 50% directly to apprentice
₹4,500
Per apprentice per month
Reimbursed via NATS / NAPS portal
Reimbursed via NATS / NAPS portal
Your Company
Pays remaining 50%
₹4,500
Per apprentice per month
Your actual net cost after reimbursement
Your actual net cost after reimbursement
Total apprentice stipend (Govt. prescribed rate)
₹9,000 / month
Your real saving: If you were to hire a full-time employee at a comparable skill level, you would pay ₹15,000 – ₹25,000/month in salary + PF + ESIC + training cost. With an apprentice, your total cost is just ₹4,500/month — a saving of ₹10,500 to ₹20,500 per person per month.
Live cost savings calculator
Calculate Your Savings
Enter your total employee count and see exactly how many apprentices you can hire and how much you save.
Apprentices you can hire
10
Govt. pays / month
₹45,000
Your cost / month
₹45,000
Monthly savings vs. regular hire
₹1,05,000
Annual savings
₹12,60,000
Govt. pays annually
₹5,40,000
* Savings calculated vs. equivalent regular employee cost of ₹15,000/month (salary + overhead). Actual savings may be higher. Govt. reimbursement subject to NATS/NAPS portal disbursement timelines.
Eligibility & rules
Who Can Participate
The National Apprenticeship program is open to most companies. Key rules on quota and eligibility are below.
✓ Eligible companies
Any company with 4 or more employees
Manufacturing, services, IT, retail, hospitality
MSMEs and large corporations both eligible
Schools, institutes, and NGOs (under NAPS)
Apprentice quota: 2.5% to 18% of total workforce
✗ Key conditions to note
Cannot exceed 18% of total employee count
Apprentice must be 14+ years old (18+ for hazardous)
Must sign a formal contract registered on portal
Cannot replace regular employees with apprentices
Minimum apprenticeship duration: 6 months
2.5% → 18%
Your eligible apprentice quota. Every company must hire between 2.5% and 18% of their total employee strength as apprentices. Example: A company with 200 employees can hire between 5 and 36 apprentices — all with 50% government-backed stipend.
Why companies choose this program
Cut operational cost by 50%+
Pay only ₹4,500/month per worker instead of ₹15,000+. Government absorbs the rest.
Build a trained talent pipeline
Train apprentices your way. The best performers become full-time hires — pre-trained, no onboarding cost.
Government compliance handled
Vikataestate manages all NATS/NAPS registrations, contracts, and stipend claims. Zero paperwork burden on you.
Flexible across all sectors
Works for IT, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, and services. Any company with 4+ employees qualifies.
NSQF-certified training
Apprentices trained under NSQF-aligned curriculum — government-recognized skills that add real value to your operations.
CSR & social impact credit
Apprenticeship programs qualify under CSR spend guidelines. Upskill youth and meet your CSR mandate simultaneously.
Regular hire vs. apprentice hire
| Cost factor | Regular employee | Apprentice (via Vikataestate) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly salary / stipend | ₹15,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹9,000 (prescribed) |
| Your actual monthly cost | ₹15,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹4,500 (Govt. pays 50%) |
| PF / ESIC contribution | Mandatory | Not applicable |
| Training cost | ₹5,000 – ₹20,000 one-time | Covered by program |
| Compliance & paperwork | High | Managed by Vikataestate |
| Notice period / exit cost | 1 – 3 months | Flexible contract period |
| Govt. reimbursement | None | ₹4,500/month per person |
| Annual cost (1 person) | ₹1,80,000 – ₹3,00,000 | ₹54,000 (your net cost) |
How Vikataestate helps you
End-to-End Apprenticeship Management
You focus on your business. We handle the entire apprenticeship lifecycle — from sourcing to stipend reimbursement.
Step 01
Company registration
We register your company on NATS/NAPS govt. portal and set up your compliance profile.
Step 02
Candidate sourcing
We supply pre-screened, NSQF-ready apprentice candidates matched to your industry.
Step 03
Contract & onboarding
All apprenticeship contracts drafted, signed, and registered on the Govt. portal by us.
Step 04
Training delivery
Structured training plan delivered — both on-the-job and classroom, as per NSQF norms.
Step 05
Stipend reimbursement
We file your reimbursement claims monthly. ₹4,500 per apprentice credited to you by Govt.
Step 06
Certification
Apprentices receive Govt.-recognized NSQF certificates. Best performers join your full team.
Start Saving ₹4,500 per worker from Next Month
Talk to our apprenticeship team. We calculate your eligible quota, find candidates, and file all the Govt. paperwork — so you start saving from day one.