UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog Releases Report on ‘Revitalizing Apprenticeship Ecosystem: Insights, Challenges, Recommendations and Best Practices

Q1. In the NITI Aayog report 'Revitalizing India's Apprenticeship Ecosystem', the recommendations are organised around 'five interlinked pillars'. Which one of the following correctly describes what these pillars represent?

  • A. Thematic categories that group the report's 20 action-oriented recommendations, each with assigned implementation responsibilities and measurable performance metrics
  • B. Five statutory bodies created under the Apprentices Act, 1961 to regulate apprenticeship in each region
  • C. Five separate central sector schemes that together replace NAPS and NATS
  • D. Five sectoral skill councils designated as nodal agencies for stipend disbursal

Q2. With reference to the five pillars of recommendations in the NITI Aayog report 'Revitalizing India's Apprenticeship Ecosystem', consider the following: 1. Policy and systemic reforms 2. Industry and employer engagement 3. Financial subsidy and tax-incentive rationalisation 4. Apprentice- and aspirant-level support mechanisms Which of the above is/are correctly identified as pillars of the report?

  1. Policy and systemic reforms
  2. Industry and employer engagement
  3. Financial subsidy and tax-incentive rationalisation
  4. Apprentice- and aspirant-level support mechanisms
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Both the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) derive their statutory basis exclusively from which one of the following?

  • A. The Apprentices Act, 1961
  • B. The National Skill Development Corporation Act
  • C. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
  • D. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

Q4. The NITI Aayog report on the apprenticeship ecosystem makes several structural proposals. Consider the following: 1. An Apprenticeship Engagement Index to benchmark States/UTs 2. A common digital platform to unify NAPS and NATS 3. A single merged scheme abolishing NAPS and NATS and placing all apprenticeship under one ministry 4. Twenty action-oriented recommendations across five pillars Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a proposal made in the report?

  1. An Apprenticeship Engagement Index to benchmark States/UTs
  2. A common digital platform to unify NAPS and NATS
  3. A single merged scheme abolishing NAPS and NATS and placing all apprenticeship under one ministry
  4. Twenty action-oriented recommendations across five pillars
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q5. The proposal to introduce an 'Apprenticeship Engagement Index' to benchmark the performance of States and Union Territories was put forward in a report released by which one of the following?

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. Central Apprenticeship Council
  • C. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. National Council for Vocational Education and Training

Q6. The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), which recommended a 36% hike in apprentice stipend, is chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • B. Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog
  • C. Union Minister of Education
  • D. Director General of Training

Q7. With reference to the Central Apprenticeship Council's recent stipend recommendation, consider the following statements: 1. It recommended a 36% increase, revising the stipend range from Rs 5,000-9,000 to Rs 6,800-12,300. 2. The revised stipend is proposed to be adjusted automatically once every two years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. 3. The recommended hike applies only to NATS apprentices and not to NAPS apprentices. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It recommended a 36% increase, revising the stipend range from Rs 5,000-9,000 to Rs 6,800-12,300.
  2. The revised stipend is proposed to be adjusted automatically once every two years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.
  3. The recommended hike applies only to NATS apprentices and not to NAPS apprentices.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In 2025, about 5.23 lakh apprentices were engaged under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). NATS is operationalised through which one of the following arrangements?

  • A. Boards of Apprenticeship Training / Practical Training under the Ministry of Education
  • B. Sector Skill Councils under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. Regional offices of the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • D. District Industries Centres under the Ministry of MSME

Q9. Considering the number of apprentices engaged in 2025 as reported by NITI Aayog, which one of the following schemes engaged the largest number of apprentices?

  • A. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
  • B. National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)
  • C. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
  • D. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

Q10. The NITI Aayog report 'Revitalizing India's Apprenticeship Ecosystem' was released by Dr. Arvind Virmani. In what capacity does Dr. Virmani serve in NITI Aayog?

  • A. Member (Skill Development, Labour & Employment)
  • B. Chief Executive Officer
  • C. Vice-Chairman
  • D. Chairperson

Q11. The NITI Aayog report attributes part of the regulatory fragmentation in the apprenticeship ecosystem to NAPS and NATS being administered by two different ministries. Which pair correctly identifies the administering ministries of NAPS and NATS respectively?

  • A. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Ministry of Education
  • B. Ministry of Education; Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • C. Ministry of Labour and Employment; Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Ministry of Labour and Employment