NATS and NAPS Apprenticeships: Stipends, Registration, Employers

Last updated: 13 October 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

Quick answer: NATS is the apprenticeship scheme for graduates and diploma holders who passed out within five years, and NAPS mainly covers trade apprentices such as ITI and school pass-outs. Under NATS, the Ministry of Education's August 2024 letter sets a minimum stipend of Rs 9,000 a month for graduates and Rs 8,000 for diploma holders, with the government paying 50% of that minimum through DBT. Both run under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

Key takeaways

• NATS is open to graduates and diploma holders who passed out within the last five years, including non-technical streams, according to the Ministry of Education.
• The Ministry of Education's 27 August 2024 letter sets the minimum NATS stipend at Rs 9,000 a month for graduates and Rs 8,000 for diploma holders.
• The Government of India pays 50% of the prescribed minimum NATS stipend directly to apprentices through DBT on the NATS 2.0 portal launched on 30 July 2024.
• Establishments with 30 or more employees must engage apprentices equal to 2.5% to 15% of their workforce, while those with 4 to 29 employees may do so voluntarily.
• IndianOil's Bongaigaon Refinery notice of 28 September 2026 uses NAPS for trade seats and NATS for technician seats and selects on marks without a written test.

What are NATS and NAPS, and which one is for you?

NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) is for graduates and diploma holders and runs on the Ministry of Education's portal; NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) mainly covers trade apprentices, including ITI and school pass-outs, and runs on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. Both place you in a paid, fixed-term training seat with an employer under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

The quickest way to decide: if you hold a degree or a diploma and finished it recently, start with NATS. If you are an ITI pass-out or a 10th or 12th pass looking at a trade, start with NAPS. Some employers use both portals for different seats in the same advertisement, as IndianOil does (more on that below).

Who is eligible for NATS?

You are eligible for NATS if you hold a graduate degree or a diploma and passed out within the last five years, according to the FAQ enclosed with the Ministry of Education's letter of 27 August 2024 (Ministry of Education). The same letter says the scheme now includes non-technical graduates and diploma holders, not only engineering students.

Stipends are from the same Ministry of Education letter. Employers can pay more than the minimum, but the government's reimbursement stays capped at 50% of the prescribed minimum.

Who is eligible for NAPS?

NAPS mainly serves trade apprentices, whose qualifications range from Class VIII pass to Class XII, and the minimum age for a trade apprentice is 14, according to the Directorate General of Training. Many trade seats in industry ask for an ITI certificate in a specific trade, and some, like IndianOil's Bongaigaon trade seats, accept BSc graduates for operator-type trades.

Trades come in two kinds. Designated trades are notified by the government with a set syllabus; optional trades are chosen by the employer. The trade decides your training length and what the employer will teach you, so read the trade name in an advertisement carefully.

How much stipend do NATS and NAPS apprentices get?

Under NATS, the minimum is Rs 9,000 a month for graduates and Rs 8,000 for diploma holders, and the Government of India pays half of that minimum directly to the apprentice through DBT on the NATS 2.0 portal, which was launched on 30 July 2024 (Ministry of Education).

Under NAPS, the stipend for trade apprentices is set under the Apprentices Act and the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and company advertisements usually say "as per the Act and Rules" rather than printing a figure. IndianOil's Bongaigaon notice of 28 September 2026 does exactly that (IndianOil). Before you accept a seat, ask the employer for the monthly amount in writing, and check the current rules on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.

One practical point: the NATS portal says active apprentices had to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC by 31 May 2026, and that missing e-KYC can delay the government's DBT share (NATS). Do it on the day you register.

How do you register on NATS and NAPS?

Registration takes under an hour if your documents are ready. The steps below are for NATS; NAPS follows the same logic on its own portal.

1. Open nats.education.gov.in, choose Student Register, and create a profile with your mobile number and email.
2. Complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC: enter your Aadhaar number, verify the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, and access the dashboard (NATS).
3. Fill in your qualification details exactly as on your marksheet, and upload the documents asked for.
4. Search for establishments and apply, or apply to the establishment ID printed in a company's advertisement.
5. Track offers on the dashboard and sign the contract online once an employer accepts you.

Your college can also enrol students in bulk through the institution login, according to the Ministry of Education FAQ, so ask your placement cell.

How do companies use NATS and NAPS?

Companies use the portals to post seats, shortlist applicants and register the apprenticeship contract. Establishments with 30 or more employees must engage apprentices equal to 2.5% to 15% of their workforce, while those with 4 to 29 employees may do so voluntarily, according to the Ministry of Education FAQ (Ministry of Education). That obligation applies to establishments generally, which is why private firms as well as PSUs post seats.

IndianOil is a clear example of using both portals. Its apprenticeship page says applications must go through NAPS or NATS (IndianOil). In the Bongaigaon Refinery notice, BSc candidates for trade seats apply on NAPS, diploma candidates for technician seats apply on NATS, each against a separate establishment ID, and all candidates also fill a company form. Selection is on qualifying marks with no written test, and the last date is 18 October 2026 (IndianOil).

When a private company advertises an apprenticeship, ask which portal and establishment ID it uses. A genuine apprenticeship is registered on one of these portals; an "apprenticeship" that asks you for a fee is a red flag, and our guide to spotting fake job postings explains the warning signs.

What do most guides on NATS and NAPS get wrong?

Most guides call apprenticeships "jobs" and imply a permanent post at the end. An apprenticeship is a training contract under the Apprentices Act, and the IndianOil notice, for instance, promises no employment after it. What you do get is a Government of India certificate of proficiency on completion, and the Ministry of Education letter says one year of apprenticeship counts as experience for employment under Central and State establishments (Ministry of Education).

The second error is mixing up the portals. A diploma holder applying on NAPS for a technician seat, or a BSc applicant on NATS for a trade seat, can simply be missed. Match the portal to the seat the advertisement names.

What does a 90-day plan for landing an apprenticeship look like?

A 90-day plan is about volume and accuracy: a clean profile, steady applications and fast follow-up.

1. Days 1 to 7: Register on the right portal, finish e-KYC and upload documents.
2. Days 8 to 30: Shortlist 30 establishments in your field and city, including PSU refineries, manufacturers and IT firms, and apply to every relevant seat.
3. Days 31 to 60: Check PSU careers pages weekly for apprenticeship notices, since many need a company form in addition to the portal application.
4. Days 61 to 75: Prepare for document verification: originals, photocopies, caste or EWS certificates and a medical certificate if asked.
5. Days 76 to 90: Prepare a short pitch on your skills for interviews, and ask an Asuraa mentor to review it.

If you are a fresh graduate weighing an apprenticeship against a direct government job, see the government jobs in India guide and government job vs private IT job. Diploma and ITI holders should also read the diploma and polytechnic jobs guide and the ITI jobs guide.

Related guides

• Government Jobs in India for Graduates: Exams and Planning (2026)
• Government Jobs for 12th Pass Students: Exams by Stream and Age Limits
• PSU Jobs Without GATE: Direct Recruitment, Apprentices and Trainees
• India Post GDS and Postal Jobs: Eligibility, Merit Lists, How to Apply

FAQ

What is the stipend under NATS?

The Ministry of Education's letter of 27 August 2024 sets the minimum monthly NATS stipend at Rs 9,000 for graduate apprentices, Rs 8,000 for diploma apprentices, Rs 8,000 for graduate sandwich apprentices and Rs 7,000 for diploma sandwich apprentices. The government reimburses 50% of the minimum through DBT, and employers may pay more.

Who can apply for NATS?

Graduates and diploma holders who passed out within the last five years can apply, according to the Ministry of Education FAQ. The scheme covers non-technical streams too, not just engineering. Sandwich-course students doing industrial training as part of their degree or diploma are also covered. Register on nats.education.gov.in and complete e-KYC.

What is the difference between NATS and NAPS?

NATS covers graduate and diploma (technician) apprentices and runs on the Ministry of Education's NATS 2.0 portal. NAPS mainly covers trade apprentices, including ITI and school pass-outs, and runs on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. Employers such as IndianOil use NAPS for trade seats and NATS for technician seats in the same advertisement.

Is e-KYC mandatory on the NATS portal?

Yes. The NATS portal asked active apprentices to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC by 31 May 2026 and says candidates become eligible for apprenticeship only after e-KYC. Without it, the government's DBT share of your stipend may be delayed. You verify using an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Does an apprenticeship guarantee a job?

No. An apprenticeship is a fixed-term training contract under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not an appointment. You receive a Government of India certificate of proficiency on completion, and the Ministry of Education says one year of apprenticeship counts as experience for Central and State government employment, which helps later applications.

How long is a NATS apprenticeship?

NATS training lasts between six months and one year, according to the Ministry of Education's August 2024 letter. The exact period is set in your contract with the employer on the portal. Trade apprenticeships under NAPS can run longer, from about one year two months to two years depending on the trade.

Final thoughts

NATS and NAPS are the official front doors to paid apprenticeships in India, and picking the right portal for your qualification is half the work. Register early, finish e-KYC and apply widely. While you train, keep an updated resume ready and check it against target roles with the Asuraa resume reviewer.