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Apprentices Act, 1961

Section 21: Tests, certificates and conclusion of training

Section 21 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 21 does

Provides for tests, assessment, certificates and completion outcomes.

Connected instrument: Curriculum and certification rules

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.

21. Holding of test and grant of certificate and conclusion of training.—3[(1) Every trade
apprenticewho has completed the period of training may appear for a test to be conducted by the National
Council or any other agency authorised by the Central Government to determine his proficiency in the
designated trade in which he has undergone apprenticeship training].
    (2) Every4[trade apprentice] who passes the test referred to in sub-section (1) shall be granted a
certificate of proficiency in the trade by the National Council 5[or by the other agency authorised by the
Central Government].
     6
    [(3) The progress in apprenticeship training of every graduate or technician apprentice7[technician
(vocational) apprentice] shall be assessed by the employer from time to time.
     8
     [(4) Every graduate or technician apprentice or technician (vocational) apprentice, who completes his
apprenticeship training to the satisfaction of the concerned Regional Board, shall be granted a certificate
of proficiency by that Board.]]
                                                 STATE AMENDMENTS
Maharashtra
     Amendment of section 21 of 52 of 1961.—In section 21 of the principal Act,—
          (i) after the existing sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

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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