🇮🇳 Ministry of Education · Board of Apprenticeship Training
National Apprenticeship
Training Scheme
(NATS)
India's premier apprenticeship scheme for engineering and diploma graduates — the Government pays 50% of the prescribed ₹9,000 stipend directly. Vikataestate manages every step of the NATS process for your organization.
NATS Quick Facts
50%Govt. stipend share
₹4,500Govt. pays per month
2.5–18%Of total workforce
₹9,000Prescribed stipend
Ministry of Education — BOAT scheme
Engineering & diploma graduates eligible
Registered on nats.education.gov.in
Vikataestate handles all compliance
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NATS — Apprenticeship Training Scheme
Govt. pays 50% of stipend · Engineering/diploma graduates · Ministry of Education
Also available
NAPS — Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
Govt. pays 25% · All trades · Ministry of Skill Development
50%Government pays of total stipend
₹4,500Govt. credit per apprentice/month
2.5–18%Of workforce eligible as apprentices
₹9,000Prescribed stipend rate/month
What is NATS
Ministry of Education — Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT)
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme
The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) is administered by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is one of India's oldest and most prestigious apprenticeship programs.
Under NATS, the Government reimburses 50% of the prescribed stipend of ₹9,000/month — i.e., ₹4,500 per apprentice per month — directly to the employer. This makes hiring skilled engineering and diploma graduates extremely cost-effective.
NATS specifically targets engineering graduates, diploma holders, and sandwich course students — making it the ideal scheme for companies that need technically skilled apprentices in core engineering and technology roles.
Governed by
Apprentices Act 1961 — Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT), Ministry of Education
Reimbursement
50% of ₹9,000 = ₹4,500/month per apprentice. Credited directly to employer bank account.
Who can be apprentice
Engineering graduates (BE/BTech), Diploma holders, sandwich course students from AICTE-approved institutions
Who can hire
Any Central/State Govt. establishment, PSU, or private company. No minimum employee count.
Duration
1 to 2 years of structured on-the-job training under a qualified supervisor in the company
Stipend breakdown
Who Pays What Under NATS
The prescribed NATS stipend is ₹9,000/month — split equally between the Government and the employer
Government of India
Pays 50% — credited to employer
₹4,500
Per apprentice per month
Directly credited via nats.education.gov.in portal
Directly credited via nats.education.gov.in portal
Your Company
Pays remaining 50%
₹4,500
Per apprentice per month
Your actual net cost after Govt. reimbursement
Your actual net cost after Govt. reimbursement
Your real saving: If you hired an engineering graduate as a full-time employee, you'd pay ₹20,000–₹35,000/month (salary + PF + ESIC + training). Under NATS, your actual cost is just ₹4,500/month — a saving of ₹15,500 to ₹30,500 per person per month. For 10 apprentices, that's ₹54,000 back from the Govt. every month.
Apprentice qualification & stipend tiers
Who Qualifies & What They Earn
NATS supports multiple qualification levels — from sandwich students to post-graduate engineers
| Qualification | Prescribed stipend | Govt. pays (50%) | Your cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwich course student (diploma) | ₹6,000/month | ₹3,000/month | ₹3,000/month | 6 months – 1 year |
| Sandwich course student (degree) | ₹7,000/month | ₹3,500/month | ₹3,500/month | 6 months – 1 year |
| Diploma in Engineering | ₹8,000/month | ₹4,000/month | ₹4,000/month | 1 year |
| Graduate in Engineering (BE/BTech) | ₹9,000/month | ₹4,500/month | ₹4,500/month | 1 year |
| Post Graduate (ME/MTech/MBA) | ₹9,000/month | ₹4,500/month | ₹4,500/month | 1 year |
Eligibility & quota rules
Who can participate
Any company — private, public, or government
No minimum employee count required (unlike NAPS)
Apprentice quota: 2.5% to 18% of total workforce
Engineering graduates (BE/BTech) — all branches
Diploma holders from AICTE-approved institutes
Sandwich course students during industrial training
Post-graduate engineers (ME/MTech)
Key conditions
Cannot replace existing regular employees
Cannot exceed 18% of total workforce
Minimum 1 year duration (typically)
Must register on nats.education.gov.in portal
Structured training plan must be submitted
Full ₹9,000 stipend paid monthly by employer
Live savings calculator
Calculate Your NATS Savings
Enter your company size and target apprentice count to see exactly what the Government pays you back
No minimum requirement — any company can participate in NATS
Set your target apprentice ratio within the eligible range
Fixed under NATS
Prescribed stipend: ₹9,000/month per apprentice
Govt. pays: ₹4,500/month (50%) per apprentice
Govt. pays: ₹4,500/month (50%) per apprentice
Your NATS summary
Eligible apprentices10
Stipend per apprentice₹9,000/month
Total stipend payout/mo₹90,000
Govt. pays/month (50%)₹45,000
Your actual cost/month₹45,000
Govt. pays annually₹5,40,000
Saving vs regular hire/mo₹1,05,000
* Savings vs equivalent regular employees at ₹19,500/month (salary + overhead). Subject to portal processing timelines.
How NATS works — step by step
Simple 6-Step NATS Process
From company registration to stipend reimbursement — Vikataestate manages it all for you
1
Register on NATS
Company enrolled on nats.education.gov.in
2
Select apprentices
Vikataestate provides pre-screened engineering graduates
3
Contract signed
Apprenticeship agreement registered on NATS portal
4
Training begins
Structured on-the-job training under supervisor
5
Pay ₹9,000/month
Employer pays full stipend to apprentice monthly
6
Govt. pays ₹4,500
50% reimbursed directly to your account
NATS vs regular hiring
| Cost factor | Regular employee (engineer) | NATS apprentice (via Vikataestate) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly salary / stipend | ₹20,000 – ₹35,000 | ₹9,000 (prescribed) |
| Govt. reimbursement | None | ₹4,500/month — 50% of stipend |
| Your actual net cost | ₹20,000 – ₹35,000 | ₹4,500/month after Govt. credit |
| PF / ESIC contribution | Mandatory (~15.75% of salary) | Not applicable during apprenticeship |
| Gratuity liability | Accrues from Day 1 | No gratuity during apprenticeship |
| Training cost | ₹10,000 – ₹30,000 one-time | Covered under NATS program |
| Compliance & paperwork | High (PF, ESIC, Labour laws) | Fully managed by Vikataestate |
| Annual cost (1 person) | ₹2,40,000 – ₹4,20,000 | ₹54,000 (your net after Govt. credit) |
| Govt. support/year | ₹0 | ₹54,000 per apprentice |
How Vikataestate manages NATS for you
End-to-End NATS Management
You focus on training and growing your business. We handle the entire NATS administrative lifecycle.
Step 01
Company registration
We register your establishment on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) and complete all verification steps.
Step 02
Candidate sourcing
We provide pre-screened engineering graduates and diploma holders matched to your industry, location, and skill requirements.
Step 03
Contract registration
All apprenticeship agreements drafted, digitally signed, and registered on the NATS portal by our team on your behalf.
Step 04
Training plan setup
Structured on-the-job training plan created for each apprentice — aligned with their qualification level and your operational needs.
Step 05
Reimbursement claims
We file monthly claims for ₹4,500 per apprentice via the NATS portal. The Govt. credits the amount directly to your company.
Step 06
Completion & certificate
On successful completion, apprentices receive NATS BOAT completion certificates — a prestigious Govt.-recognised credential.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does the Govt. pay under NATS? ▼
The Government of India pays exactly 50% of the prescribed stipend — which is ₹4,500 per apprentice per month (50% of ₹9,000). This amount is credited directly from the NATS portal to your company's registered bank account every month. The employer pays the full ₹9,000 to the apprentice and gets ₹4,500 back from the Govt.
What is the difference between NATS and NAPS? ▼
NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) is governed by the Ministry of Education and targets engineering graduates and diploma holders — Govt. pays 50% (₹4,500/month). NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) is governed by the Ministry of Skill Development and covers a broader range including fresher apprentices and optional trades — Govt. pays 25% (max ₹1,500/month). NATS is better for companies needing technical engineering talent; NAPS is better for broader workforce needs.
Do I need a minimum number of employees to participate in NATS? ▼
No. Unlike NAPS (which requires 4+ employees), NATS has no minimum employee count requirement. Any company — even startups — can participate in NATS as long as they can provide structured training to the apprentices. The apprentice quota of 2.5% to 18% applies to your total workforce.
Which engineering branches are eligible for NATS? ▼
All AICTE-approved engineering branches are eligible — including Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Chemical, IT, Instrumentation, Aerospace, and more. Diploma holders from polytechnic colleges in any technical stream are also eligible. The apprentice must have passed from an AICTE-recognized institution.
Can we hire the apprentice permanently after NATS? ▼
Yes, but it is not mandatory. After the apprenticeship period (typically 1 year), you have the option to offer permanent employment. There is no obligation, but most companies convert their best-performing apprentices — who are already fully trained in your systems — into full-time employees, eliminating all onboarding and training costs.
How long does it take to start getting the Govt. reimbursement? ▼
Once the company and apprentices are registered on the NATS portal and contracts are signed, reimbursement claims can be filed from the first month of training. The processing typically takes 30–60 days for the first claim, after which it becomes regular. Vikataestate files all claims on your behalf and monitors payment status.
Register your company under NATS
NATS Enrollment Form
Fill in your company details — our NATS expert will contact you within 48 hours
Talk to our NATS team
Phone (Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm)
Govt. Portal
nats.education.gov.in
What Vikataestate does for you
Register company on NATS Govt. portal
Source engineering graduates & diploma holders
Draft and register all apprenticeship contracts
Create structured training plan per apprentice
File monthly ₹4,500/apprentice reimbursement claims
Monitor portal payments and resolve issues
Maintain all compliance records and documentation
Arrange NATS BOAT completion certificates
Official Govt. scheme
NATS is a Central Government of India scheme under the Ministry of Education — Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT). The ₹4,500/month reimbursement is a direct Govt. payment — not a Vikataestate subsidy.
Start Getting ₹4,500/Month Per Apprentice from the Govt.
Join companies saving lakhs every year through NATS. Vikataestate handles everything — from portal registration to monthly reimbursement — so you focus on growing your team.