Pillar: Economic Participation
An Apprenticeship or Placement Cell is a unit inside an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), polytechnic, engineering college, or degree college that connects students with employers, facilitates apprenticeship registrations, and tracks employment outcomes. It is not a standalone institution. The Directorate General of Training (DGT) mandates a Training and Placement Officer (TPO) in each government ITI. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) mandates a Training and Placement Cell in polytechnics and engineering colleges. Nationally, Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS, formerly NAPS, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) runs through apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE); the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) is implemented by the Ministry of Education through nats.education.gov.in; both operate under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (most recently amended in 2014). PM-NAPS sits within the composite Skill India Programme alongside Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS). PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) has designated select ITIs as hub institutions with enhanced industry linkages.
If you are in an ITI, polytechnic, or college and want to find a job or apprenticeship after completing your course, the placement cell is supposed to connect you with employers. Ask for the TPO by name.
- Register students on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) and match with establishments - Organise campus placement drives with employer visits and interviews - Build and maintain employer relationships through local factory and business visits - Maintain alumni tracking records: where graduates work, salary, field of employment - Organise industry visits and workplace exposure for students - Communicate employer skill-gap feedback to the institution
Portal: Skill India Digital Hub (skillindiadigital.gov.in) is the MSDE-side discovery portal for skilling and apprenticeship under the Skill India Programme. NAPS-specific listings live at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in; NATS at nats.education.gov.in. The NCVT MIS portal at ncvtmis.gov.in (operationally retained name; underlying regulator is now NCVET / DGT) carries ITI details Also: Go to the government ITI or polytechnic and ask for the TPO or placement cell directly
For what this looks like in a particular district, start from the district courses or the English reference guide (Hindi).