New Delhi, February 2023.

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 February13, 2023, in 200+ districts across the country.

Several local businesses and organizations have been invited to be a part of this apprenticeship mela to providerelevant opportunities to the local youth through apprenticeship training. The event will witness the participation from many companies representing various sectors. The participating organizations will have the chance to meet potential apprentices on a single platform and to choose from the applicants on the spot, providing them with an opportunity to strengthen their livelihood and learn new skills.

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 12pass 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 fair, 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, it is encouraging to see the response that we are receiving from the youth and establishments during PMNAM as it further reinforces on the concept that apprenticeship is the best pathway for education-to-work transition. Also, the Union Budget 2023 has given a huge boost to the skill ecosystem by prioritizing skills as a major growth driver for the economy. Key announcements including the utilization of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to extend financial support to 47 lakh youth in 3 years under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Schemeis an encouraging step in creating aspirational value for apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship melas are hosted in the country on the second Monday of every month, wherein 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 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.