How to Register on National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme NAPS Portal: Step-by-Step Guide

September 29, 2026

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is a landmark digital initiative by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Designed to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements, NAPS facilitates structured on-the-job training for candidates while offering financial incentives to business establishments. All activities under this scheme—including application, profile verification, and contract signing—are conducted online through the official Apprenticeship India Portal at https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/.

For candidates looking to gain practical industry exposure, NAPS offers a direct path to hands-on training with reputable companies. It is important to distinguish NAPS from the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). While NATS is administered by the Ministry of Education specifically for engineering graduates, diploma holders, and general graduates, NAPS serves a broader target group, including ITI pass-outs, school dropouts, and skill certificate holders. Registration on the NAPS portal is completely free of cost for both candidates and employers.

NAPS Registration Eligibility and Prerequisites

To ensure a smooth registration process on the portal, applicants and organizations must meet specific eligibility requirements. The scheme is structured to accommodate diverse educational backgrounds while maintaining strict compliance with the Apprentices Act.

Candidate Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
Age Limits: The minimum age for registration is 14 years. However, for apprenticeships in hazardous industries, candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
Educational Background: The portal is open to ITI pass-outs, school graduates and dropouts (from Class 5 to Class 12), skill certificate holders, and general graduates.
Prior Training Restriction: Candidates must not have undergone any previous apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act.
Student Status Restriction: Active, full-time regular college students are not eligible to register, as NAPS mandates active, full-time workplace training.
Scheme Exclusivity: Candidates cannot register or receive stipends if they are currently pursuing or have completed a NATS apprenticeship or any other central or state-sponsored training scheme.

Establishment Eligibility Criteria

Business Registration: The establishment must be registered as a valid business entity in India.
Infrastructure: The business must possess basic in-house training facilities or have a formal partnership with a registered Third-Party Apprentice (TPA) basic training provider.

Documents Required for NAPS Portal Registration

Having your documents ready beforehand prevents session timeouts during the online registration process. There are no fees or profile verification charges levied by the government on either candidates or establishments.

For Candidates

Active personal mobile number and a unique personal email ID.
Mandatory Aadhaar Card (required for completing online e-KYC and Direct Benefit Transfer tracking).
Recent scanned passport-size photograph and a clear scanned image of your signature.
Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account passbook or an official bank statement clearly displaying the bank account number and IFSC.
Academic mark sheets and certificates (Class 10th, 12th, ITI, or Graduation Degree Certificate, depending on your qualification level).

For Establishments

Company PAN card.
GST Registration Certificate or an official Business Registration Document.
Details of the designated corporate contact person (including mobile number, email ID, and valid identity proof).
Official corporate bank account details.

Step-by-Step NAPS Registration Process for Candidates

The candidate registration process is entirely digital. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your account and complete your profile to a 100% indicator rating, which is necessary to apply for active apprenticeship vacancies.

Go to the official apprenticeship portal at https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/.
Click on the Register button located at the top right corner of the homepage and select the Candidate option.
Enter your primary details, including your full Name, Parent’s Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Mobile Number, and Email ID. Double-check this information as it must match your official identity documents.
Submit the form. You will receive an automated activation link in your registered email inbox. Open the email and click Activate to verify your account.
Log in to the portal using your newly verified email and password.
Click on Complete Your Profile. The portal will prompt you to initiate Aadhaar Verification via e-KYC. Enter your Aadhaar number and submit the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Note that registering multiple times using different email IDs or mobile numbers with the same Aadhaar card is strictly blocked by the system.
Update your educational qualifications, upload the scanned copies of your academic certificates, and upload your profile photo and signature.
Enter your bank details. Ensure that the bank account entered is actively seeded with your Aadhaar card.
Select your preferred industry sectors and trade preferences. This step helps the portal match you with suitable employers and pushes your profile completion status to the mandatory 100% mark.
Once complete, your unique Candidate ID (formatted as AXXXXXXXXXX) will be generated. Save this ID securely for all future applications and contract signings.

Step-by-Step NAPS Registration Process for Establishments

Employers must register their business entities on the portal to recruit apprentices, issue official training contracts, and process government stipend reimbursement claims.

Visit the official portal at https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/, click on Register, and select the Establishment option.
Input your primary business details, including the legal name of the organization, business type, PAN, GSTIN, and physical office addresses.
Provide details for the designated contact person, including their official email, mobile number, and government-issued ID proof.
Review and accept the portal terms and guidelines, and submit the registration form.
Upon successful submission, the system generates a unique Establishment ID (formatted as EXXXXXXXXXX). Store this ID safely.
Log in to the newly created dashboard to configure your bank accounts, publish apprenticeship vacancies, and draft contracts.

Note: The exact administrative timeline required for the regional apprenticeship board or the State Skill Development Mission (SSDM) officials to verify and formally approve an establishment’s profile is not publicly specified on the portal.

NAPS-2 Stipend Rules & Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

The Government of India updated the scheme framework to NAPS-2. This update changed the payment mechanism to eliminate corporate delays by introducing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) modes via Public Financial Management System (PFMS) integration.

Stipend Sharing: Under NAPS-2, the government directly reimburses 25% of the prescribed monthly stipend, up to a maximum cap of ₹1,500 per month per apprentice.
Direct Transfer: The government’s 25% share is paid directly into the candidate’s Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account via DBT. The employer pays the remaining 75% of the stipend directly to the candidate.
Aadhaar-Seeding Requirement: DBT stipend transfers will fail if the candidate’s bank account is not actively seeded with their Aadhaar card in the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mapper database.
Basic Training Cost Support: For specific eligible categories, the government supports basic training costs up to a maximum of ₹7,500 for a training duration limit of 500 hours (up to 3 months).
Contract Binding: Once a candidate and an establishment sign an apprenticeship contract online, it is legally binding. Premature termination of a contract requires formal approval from the regional apprenticeship adviser.

Official Sources

Official Apprenticeship Training Portal (MSDE)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an exam for registration on the NAPS portal?

No. Registration on the NAPS portal is completely free and is solely a database profile-building step. Individual hiring establishments may conduct their own exams or interviews during their selection processes.

Can a regular college student register on NAPS?

No. Active full-time students cannot register on NAPS, as the scheme requires the candidate to engage in full-time workplace training.

How long is the NAPS apprentice registration valid?

The portal account registration remains valid indefinitely once created.

Conclusion

Registering on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) portal is a straightforward, digital step toward building a successful career. By matching candidates with top-tier corporate firms for hands-on, industry-recognized training, NAPS provides a clear pathway to employment. If you are an eligible candidate, ensure your Aadhaar card is active and correctly seeded with your bank account before starting the process to guarantee seamless monthly DBT stipend transfers. Visit the official portal today to complete your profile and explore opportunities.