Rule 2: Definitions

Rule purpose

Rule 2 operationalises section(s) 2 of the Apprentices Act and should be read with the applicable Schedule, curriculum, portal workflow and adviser directions.

Employer implementation

• Use the current portal fields and contract format, but retain an offline legal checklist so portal configuration does not become the only control.
• Map every apprentice to category, qualification, trade, duration, stipend, supervisor and approving authority.
• Keep dated screenshots/acknowledgements for registration, changes, termination, stipend and reporting.
• Escalate State/jurisdiction and adviser questions before onboarding rather than after a portal rejection.

Rule text extract

The bundled 1992 Rules PDF is an older consolidated source. The amendment overlay above controls where later Gazette changes apply.

2.     Definitions -

       In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-

       (1)    "Act" means the Apprentices Act,1961 (52 of 1961);

       (2)    "Diploma Holder" means a person who holds a diploma in engineering
              or technology or equivalent qualification granted by a State Board of
              Technical Education, or recognized by the State Government concerned or
              the Central Government.

       (2A)   “Diploma in non-engineering” means a person who holds a diploma in non-
              engineering or equivalent qualification granted by a Board or University or
              recognised by the concerned State Government or the Central Government, as
              the case may be;

       (3)    "Engineering Graduate" means a person, who-

              (a)      holds a degree in engineering or technology granted by-

                       (i)    a statutory University, or
                       (ii)   an institution empowered to grant such degree by an Act
                              of Parliament;

              (b)      has passed the graduateship examination of professional bodies
                       recognized by the Central Government as equivalent to degree;
                                                         or
              (c)      holds the qualifications which exempt him from Sections A and
                       B examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India).

_________________________________________
*     Vide GSR No. 188(E), dated 20th March 2001

     (4)    "Vocational Certificate Holder" means a person       who       holds     a
            certificate in a Vocational Course, involving two years of study after the
            completion of secondary stage of school education, recognized by the All
            India Council for Technical Education;

     (5)    "National Classification of    Occupations" means      the      National
            Classification of Occupations adopted by the Government of India,
            Ministry of Labour, Directorate General of Employment and Training;

     (5A) “Non-engineering graduate” means a person who holds a degree in any subject
           other than engineering or technology granted by a statutory University or an
           institution empowered to grant such degree by an Act of Parliament or passed
           the graduateship examination of professional bodies recognised by the Central
           Government as equivalent degree;

     (5B) “Optional trade apprentice” means an apprentice who is not undergoing
           apprenticeship training in a designated trade;

     (6)    "Registered Medical Practitioner" means a person whose name is entered in
            the register  maintained under any law for the time being in force in any
            State regulating the registration of practitioners of medicine;

     (7)    " Sandwich Course Student" means a student undergoing a Sandwich Course
            of studies at any of the technical institutions recognised for the purpose and
            leading to the award of degree or diploma in engineering or technology;

     (8)    "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to these rules;

     (9)    "Standard Industrial Classification" means the     Standard        Industrial
            Classification adopted by the Government of India, Ministry       of Labour,
            Directorate General of Employment and Training;

     (10)   All the words and expressions, not defined here in these rules, but defined in
            the Act, shall have the same meaning as given to them in the said Act.

Linked Act provisions

Read with section(s) 2. Also test enforcement under sections 30, 31 and 31A from 22 June 2026.