Rule purpose
Rule 4 operationalises section(s) 3 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.
4. Standard of Physical Fitness -
(1) A person shall be eligible for being engaged as an apprentice if he satisfies the
minimum standards of physical fitness specified in Schedule-II.
Provided that a person who has undergone institutional training
in a school or other institution recognised by or affiliated to the National
Council or the All India Council or a Statutory University or a State Board of
Technical Education and has passed the examination or tests conducted
by these bodies, or is undergoing institutional training in a school or
institution so recognised or affiliated in order that he may require a degree
or diploma in engineering or technology or certificate in vocational
course or equivalent qualification shall, if he has already undergone medical
examination in accordance with the rules for the admission to the school or
institution, be deemed to have complied with the provisions of this rule.
*Provided further that the standards of fitness specified for item (4)
relating to "EARS" and item (6) relating to “SPEECH" of schedule II
shall not apply in the case of a person who is deaf or dumb or deaf and dumb
for the following trades, namely:-
(a) Building and Furniture Trades Group:
1. Plumber
2. Carpenter.
3. Furniture and Cabinet Maker.
4 Sports Goods Maker. (Wood)
(b) Draughtsmen and Surveyors Trades Group
1. Draughtsman(Civil)
______________________________________
* Inserted vide GSR No. 338, dated 15th September 1997
(c) Printing Trades Group.
1. Process Cameraman.
2. Retoucher Lithographic.
3. Engraver.
4. Book Binder.
(d) Hotel & Catering Trades Group
1. Cook (General).
2. Cook (Vegetarian).
3. Baker and Confectioner.
(e) Cutting and Tailoring Trades Group.
1. Designer and Master Cutter.
2. Tailor (Men)
3. Tailor (Women)
4. Tailor (General)
(f) Agriculture Trades Group
1. Horticulture Assistant.
(g) Painting Trades Group
1. Painter (General).
*(h) Group No.1-Machine Shop Trades Group:
1. Fitter
2. Turner.
3. Machinist**
(i) Group No. 3- Metal Working Trades Group:
1. Sheet Metal Worker.
2. Welder (Gas and Electric)
(j) Group No.4- Electrical Trades Group
1. Wireman.
2. Electrician**
**(k). Group No. 5 -Building And Furniture Trade Group
1. Mason (Building Constructor)
(l). Group No. 10 - Heat Engines Trades Group
1. Mechanic (Diesel)
2. Mechanic Tractor
3. Mechanic (Motor Vehicle)
(m). Group No. 11 - Draughtsmen and Survey Trades Group
1. Draughtsman (Mechanical)
2. Surveyor
(n). Group No. 18 – Chemical Trades Group
1. Plastic Processing Operator
2. Instrument Mechanic (Chemical Plant)
3. Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant)
4. Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant)
(o). Group No. 20 –Agriculture Trades Group
1. Pump Operator cum Mechanic
(p). Group No. 21 - Leather Crafts Trades Group
1. Upholsterer
2. Leather Goods Maker
(q). Group No. 23 – Electronics Trades Group
1. Electronics Mechanic
(r). Group No. 24 – Photography Trades Group
1. Photographer
(s). Group No. 26 – Beautician Trades Group
1. Hair and Skin Carer
(t). Group No. 29 – Computer Trades Group
1. Desk Top Publishing Operator
2. Programming and Systems Administration Assistant”
** Provided further that the standards of fitness specified for item (3)
relating to “Eyes” shall not apply in the case of a person with low vision (
Low vision means a person with impairment of vision of less than 6/18 to 6/10
with best correction in the better eye or impairment of field in any one of the
following categories : i) Reduction of fields less than 50 degrees, ii)
Heminaopia with macular involvement, iii) Altitudinal defect involving lower
fields) for the following trades namely:-
(a). Group No. 1-Machine Shop Trades Group
1. Fitter
2. Turner
3. Machinist
4. Machinist (Grinder)
(b). Group No. 2 -Foundry Trade Group
1. Foundryman
(c). Group No. 3 -Metal Working Trades Group
1. Forger and Heat Treater
2. Sheet Metal Worker
3. Motor Vehicle Body Builder
(d). Group No. 4 - Electrical Trade Group
1. Electrician
2. Wireman
3. Winder (Armature)
4. Electroplater
(e). Group No. 5-Building and Furniture Trades Group
1. Carpenter
2. Plumber
3. Sports Goods Maker (Wood)
4. Furniture and Cabinet Maker
(f). Group No. 6- Maintenance Trades Group
1. Mechanic Sewing Machine
(g). Group No. 9-Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trades Group
1. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic
(h). Group No. 10-Heat Engines Trades Group
1. Mechanic Diesel
2. Tractor Mechanic
3. Mechanic (Earth Moving Machinery)
4. Auto Mechanic (Two Wheeler/Three Wheeler)
(i). Group No. 14-Printing Group of Trades
1. Book Binder
(j). Group No. 15-Hotel and Catering Trades Group
1. Apprentice Food Production (General)
2. Apprentice Food Production (Vegetarian)
3. Steward
4. Baker and ConfectionerLinked Act provisions
Read with section(s) 3. Also test enforcement under sections 30, 31 and 31A from 22 June 2026.