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ARTICLE · 05 DECEMBER 2025

Government Expands Apprentices Act, 1961 Coverage: What Employers Need To Know

S.S. Rana & Co.
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Unemployment in India remains stubborn. The government's PLFS survey placed it at 5.6%[1] in June 2025, while independent estimates such as CMIE suggest a higher 7%.

IndiaEmployment and HR
Vikrant Rana
Vikrant Rana
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Unemployment in India remains stubborn. The government's PLFS survey placed it at 5.6%1in June 2025, while independent estimates such as CMIE suggest a higher 7%. This mismatch between rising educational qualifications and limited employability is where the Apprentices Act, 1961 ("Act") plays a critical role. The Act seeks to bridge this gap by mandating structured, on-the-job training through apprenticeships, ensuring that students and young workers gain industry-ready skills.

Earlier certain industries were explicitly included, while others were left guessing whether they had obligations under the law. This grey area ended on 3 September 2025, when the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) issuedNotification S.O. 4072(E).2

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