Women Lag in Apprenticeship Despite Govt Push

As of the current financial year, women constitute less than a third of apprentices engaged under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Data from the NAPS performance dashboard indicates that in FY27 so far, women made up 29.5 per cent of apprentices.

This figure, representing approximately 399,000 women out of 1.35 million apprentices, highlights a continuing challenge in increasing female participation in skills development programs. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has acknowledged this and is implementing strategies like apprenticeship melas to attract more women.

Despite a gradual increase in their share over the years, women's representation remains low in traditionally male-dominated trades. For instance, women comprised only 6 per cent of electricians and 2.6 per cent of fitters. Several skilled trades, including welding and diesel mechanics, currently have no women registered.

The NAPS scheme, launched in 2016 and now in its second phase (NAPS-2), aims to expand industry-linked skill development by encouraging employers to offer structured on-the-job training. The government contributes to apprentices' stipends to incentivize participation.

Parliamentary committees have noted the absence of specific targets for women within the scheme and urged continued efforts to boost their engagement. The scheme is part of the broader Skill India Programme, which received a significant allocation in the Union Budget for FY27.