“As we look toward Budget FY27, apprenticeships should be positioned as a core driver of India’s workforce and economic growth strategy. They go beyond technical training to enable learning by doing, build workplace-ready capability, and support socio-economic mobility by allowing young people to earn while they learn. Through structured, high-quality experiential learning, apprenticeships align India’s skilling ecosystem with productivity growth and the objectives of SDG 4, strengthening long-term employability and economic resilience. Targeted tax incentives for encouraging MSMEs to engage apprentices can accelerate the formalisation of skilling in a segment where training remains largely informal, leading to better employment outcomes and higher productivity. Additional incentives for engaging women apprentices can strengthen workforce diversity and improve female participation in the labour market.
Budget FY27 should also bring greater clarity and alignment between the NAPS and NATS frameworks to simplify participation for employers and learners. Mandating transparent disclosure of apprenticeship engagement in annual returns can further improve accountability, data quality, and long-term workforce planning. Finally, stronger industry–academia collaboration is essential to ensure curricula and training remain aligned with evolving workplace requirements, enabling a smoother transition from education to employment.”
