National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal

August 1, 2024

On July 30, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal and announced Rs 100 crore in stipends for apprentices. This money will be given directly to apprentices through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This new initiative is part of the government’s effort to improve the skills and job prospects of young people in fields like IT, manufacturing, and automobiles.

NATS 2.0 Portal Overview

The NATS 2.0 Portal is designed to make the apprenticeship process easier. It allows people looking for apprenticeships to register and apply for opportunities, and it helps industries manage job openings and contracts more effectively.

Benefits of the NATS 2.0 Portal

The portal is expected to attract more users and help young graduates and diploma holders gain practical job skills. It also ensures that apprentices receive a monthly stipend to support them financially during their training.

Panel Discussions on Apprenticeships

There were two-panel discussions about the future of apprenticeships. They covered topics such as:

Degree programs that include apprenticeships
Credits for apprenticeship training
Working together between industries and higher education
Using technology to improve the DBT system and e-Governance

Government’s Commitment to Skills Development

Minister Pradhan emphasized the need for education to go beyond traditional degrees. He encouraged educational institutions to focus on making students more employable by offering relevant courses, as highlighted in this year’s budget. To ensure that stipends are distributed fairly and efficiently, the DBT system was introduced in 2024. This system allows stipends to be sent directly to apprentices’ bank accounts, making sure they get their benefits quickly.

Supporting Vocational Education

The NATS 2.0 Portal supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to make vocational education a key part of the education system. It promotes combining vocational training with general education and supports student mobility through new guidelines for Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP) introduced by the UGC and AICTE.

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