As part of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to boost career opportunities for India’s youth under Skill India Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is conducting the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) on March 20, 2023, in 200+ districts across the country.

Several local businesses and organizations have been invited to be a part of this apprenticeship mela to provide relevant apprenticeship training opportunities to local youth. The event will witness the participation of many companies representing various sectors. Through a single platform, participating organizations can connect with potential apprentices and choose from their qualifications on the spot, strengthening their livelihoods and providing them with new opportunities.

Individuals can register for the mela by visiting https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/ and to find the mela’s nearest location. The candidates who are Class 5 to Class 12 pass outs or have skill training certificates or are ITI certificate holders or Diploma holders or graduates can apply in this apprenticeship mela. The candidates must carry three copies of their resume, three copies of all the marksheets and certificates, photo ID (Aadhaar card/driving licence etc) and three passport size photographs to the respective venues.

The locations are also available on the apprenticeship mela portal (http://dgt.gov.in/appmela2022/). Those who have already enrolled have been requested to reach the venue with all the relevant documents. Through this Mela, the candidates will also earn National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-recognized certifications, improving their employability rate after the training sessions.

Expressing his views on the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, “apprenticeship is the best pathway for education-to-work transition. Through platforms such as PMNAM, the Government is placing its efforts to raise the aspirational value of apprenticeship in India.

The launch of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) will further boost apprenticeship training in the coming years. Employers will also be encouraged to engage apprentices, tapping the right talent. It is significant that we continue to invest in such initiatives to enhance employability and cater to the needs of the industry”.

Apprenticeship melas are held throughout the country on the second Monday of every month. In these melas, selected individuals receive a monthly stipend in accordance with government criteria for gaining new skills. Apprenticeship is considered the most sustainable model of skill development, and it has been getting a big boost under the Skill India Mission.

The government is striving to train 1 million youth per annum through apprenticeship training and to fulfil this mission, PMNAM is being used as a platform to increase the participation of establishments and students. It is also providing awareness to the youth on various opportunities existing across the participating companies.