NAPS Statistics 2026: Apprentices Engaged by Year and State
· 2 min read · 4 official sources
52,98,397 apprentices were engaged under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme from 2018-19 to 30 June 2026, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Around 12.35 lakh joined in 2025-26 alone, and Rs 1,573.46 crore of stipend has been paid by DBT since 2023. Year-wise and state-wise figures are below.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): key numbers
Infographic
Apprentices engaged under NAPS each year
Apprentices engaged under NAPS in each financial year, and how many of them were women, from a Lok Sabha reply of 11 March 2026.
| Financial year | Apprentices engaged (lakh) | Women apprentices (lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 3.08 | 0.56 |
| 2021-22 | 5.90 | 1.24 |
| 2022-23 | 7.39 | 1.49 |
| 2023-24 | 9.32 | 1.97 |
| 2024-25 | 9.85 | 2.25 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 31 March 2025
Top 12 states by apprentices engaged in 2025-26
Apprentices engaged under NAPS in the 12 states with the most in 2025-26, with the 2024-25 figure for comparison, from a Lok Sabha reply of 20 July 2026.
| State | Apprentices 2025-26 | Apprentices 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 3,01,910 | 2,78,423 |
| Tamil Nadu | 1,43,236 | 1,01,788 |
| Karnataka | 1,16,343 | 92,843 |
| Gujarat | 1,09,027 | 90,796 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1,06,269 | 78,966 |
| Haryana | 85,979 | 66,504 |
| Telangana | 47,501 | 34,017 |
| West Bengal | 35,153 | 23,324 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 34,210 | 26,823 |
| Rajasthan | 32,243 | 22,328 |
| Uttarakhand | 30,643 | 22,887 |
| Delhi | 30,330 | 22,471 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 31 March 2026
Government stipend paid by DBT each year
The government's share of apprentice stipends paid directly into bank accounts under NAPS since DBT began in July 2023. The 2026-27 figure covers April to June 2026.
| Financial year | Stipend paid (Rs crore) |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 327.17 |
| 2024-25 | 500.15 |
| 2025-26 | 567.27 |
| 2026-27 (to June) | 178.87 |
Source: pib.gov.in, as on 30 June 2026
How an apprenticeship under NAPS works
What the numbers show
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme pays part of the stipend for apprentices trained by companies under the Apprentices Act, 1961. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 52,98,397 apprentices were engaged from 2018-19 to 30 June 2026, and 57,945 establishments had registered on the apprenticeship portal, of which 38,936 were MSMEs.
The trend over the years
Engagement has risen every year in the official series. It went from 3.08 lakh in 2020-21 to 7.39 lakh in 2022-23 and 9.85 lakh in 2024-25. A PIB document of April 2026 put the 2025-26 figure at around 12.35 lakh. Women apprentices grew from 0.56 lakh in 2020-21 to 2.25 lakh in 2024-25, though they remain a minority of the total.
State differences
Apprenticeships are concentrated in industrial states. Maharashtra alone had 3,01,910 apprentices in 2025-26, far ahead of the next state, Tamil Nadu (1,43,236). Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh each crossed one lakh. Most north-eastern states and smaller union territories recorded only a few hundred apprentices or fewer.
Stipend payments
Since July 2023 the government's share of the stipend, 25 per cent up to Rs 1,500 a month, has been paid straight to apprentices by DBT. Payments rose from Rs 327.17 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 567.27 crore in 2025-26. Stipend rates were revised in September 2025 and are now linked to the Consumer Price Index.
What the figures do not tell you
"Engaged" counts apprentices who started a contract in the year, not those who finished. The April 2026 PIB document says about 6.42 lakh completed training in 2025-26. Different replies also use different periods, such as calendar years or NAPS-2 only, so figures from separate releases do not always match. For example, the April document gives Rs 562.75 crore of DBT for 2025-26 while the July reply gives Rs 567.27 crore.
Where to check the numbers
The apprenticeship portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in has live listings and registration. Parliament replies published through PIB carry the year-wise and state-wise tables used here.
Frequently asked questions
How many apprentices have been engaged under NAPS?
52,98,397 apprentices were engaged under NAPS from 2018-19 to 30 June 2026, according to a Lok Sabha reply of 27 July 2026.
How many apprentices joined NAPS in 2025-26?
Around 12.35 lakh apprentices were engaged in 2025-26 and about 6.42 lakh completed their on-the-job training that year, according to a PIB document of April 2026. In 2024-25 the figure was 9.85 lakh.
How many women are apprentices under NAPS?
About 2.25 lakh women apprentices were engaged in 2024-25, up from 0.56 lakh in 2020-21, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Which state has the most NAPS apprentices?
Maharashtra, by a wide margin. It had 3,01,910 apprentices engaged in 2025-26, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,43,236 and Karnataka with 1,16,343.
How much stipend has the government paid under NAPS?
Rs 1,573.46 crore had been paid by DBT as the government's share of stipends from July 2023 to June 2026, including Rs 567.27 crore in 2025-26.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) full guide
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Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2289894)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2286582®=48&lang=2)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238227)
- static.pib.gov.in (static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/apr/doc2026429858501)