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Apprentices Act, 1961

Section 12: Obligations of apprentices

Section 12 of the Apprentices Act, 1961 explained with current 2025-26 amendments, employer controls, evidence and connected Rules.

Law Hub L8Data reviewed on 17 July 2026India-first compliance

What section 12 does

Lists apprentice duties, including learning, lawful instructions, conduct and contract compliance.

Connected instrument: Schedules V and VI

Finin2min practical reading

  • Identify the apprentice category, trade, establishment jurisdiction and applicable portal before applying the provision.
  • Separate statutory apprenticeship from internships, probation, traineeships and ordinary employment.
  • Do not treat scheme reimbursement as a substitute for the employer’s underlying statutory obligations.
  • Preserve the contract, approvals, portal trail and training evidence as one auditable file.

Employer control and evidence pack

  • Executed/registered contract and portal acknowledgement
  • Training plan, attendance/work diary and supervisor records
  • Stipend bank/DBT evidence where relevant
  • Adviser approval, correspondence or order where the section requires it

Statutory text extract

Extracted from the bundled official/consolidated source. For sections amended in 2026, the current overlay above controls over older consolidated wording.

12. Obligations of apprentices.—9[(1)] 10[Every trade apprentice] undergoing apprenticeship
training shall have the following obligations, namely:—
         (a) to learn his trade conscientiously and diligently and endeavour to qualify himself as a skilled
     craftsman before the expiry of the period of training;
          (b) to attend practical and instructional classes regularly;
          (c) to carry out all lawful orders of his employer and superiors in the establishment; and
          (d) to carry out his obligations under the contract of apprenticeship.
     11
     [(2) Every graduate or technician apprentice 12[technician (vocational) apprentice] undergoing
apprenticeship training shall have the following obligations, namely:—
7. The word “and” omitted by Act 4 of 1997, s. 6 (w.e.f. 8-1-1997).
9. Section 12 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 27 of 1973, s. 13 (w.e.f. 1-12-1974).

Compliance consequence

Failure should be tested against sections 30, 31 and 31A as in force from 22 June 2026, alongside contract termination/compensation consequences and any portal or scheme action.

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