Rule purpose
Rule 6 operationalises section(s) 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12 of the Apprentices Act and should be read with the applicable Schedule, curriculum, portal workflow and adviser directions.
Current amendment overlay: The 2025 amendment aligned trade-apprentice obligations with Schedule V and graduate/technician/vocational/degree terms with Schedule VI.
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.
6. Fruit and Vegetable Processor
(k). Group No. 16-Textile Trades Group
1. Weaver
2. Knitter (Hosiery)
3. Printing Textile
(l). Group No. 19-Cutting and Tailoring Trades Group
1. Designer and Master Cutter
2. Tailor (Men)
3. Tailor (Women)
4. Tailor (General)
(m). Group No. 20-Agriculture Trades Group
1. Mechanic (Agricultural Machinery)
2. Horticulture Assistant
3. Stockman (Dairy)
4. Attendant Operator (Dairy)
5. Pump Operator cum Mechanic
(n). Group No. 21-Leather Crafts Trades Group
1. Sport Goods Maker (Leather)
2. Leather Goods Maker
3. Footwear Maker
4. Finished Leather Maker
5. Maintenance Mechanic for Leather Machinery
6. Upholsterer
(o). Group No. 25-Iron and Steel Trades Group
1. Brick Layer (Refractory)
2. Furnace Operator (Steel Industry)
3. Steel Melting Hand
(p). Group No. 26-Beautician Trades Group
1. Beautician
2. Hair Dresser
3. Health and Slimming Assistant
4. Hair and Skin Carer
(q). Group No. 28-Painting Trades Group
1. Painter (General)
( r ). Group No. 29-Computer Trades Group
1. Desk Top Publishing Operator
2. Programming & Systems Administration Assistant
(s). Group No. 30-Hi-Tech Trades Group
1. Advanced Attendant Operator (Process)
2. Operator Cum Mechanic Pollution Control Equipment
3. Mechanic Medical Equipment for Hospitals and Occupational
and Health Centres
(t). Group No. 31-Multi Skill Trades Group
1. Mechanic Advanced Machine Tool Maintenance
2. Operator Advanced Machine Tool
Provided further that the standards of fitness specified for item (11)
relating to “skeletal system” will be relaxed in the case of a Orthopadically
handicapped person for the following trades as mentioned against each trade,
namely:-
(a) Group No. 1-Machine Shop Trades Group
Fitter Lower limb partially damaged from one side
can join
Turner Lower limb partially damaged from one side
can join.
Machinist Only small finger damaged can join.
Machinist (Grinder) Only small finger damaged can join.
(b) Group No. 2 - Foundry Trades Group
Pattern Maker One upper & lower limb partially damaged can
join.
(c) Group No. 3 - Metal Working Trades Group
Welder (Gas and Electric) A person with out leg and without three
finger of one hand can be accommodated
Sheet Metal Worker Both Lower limb damaged can be
accommodated.
(d) Group No. 4 - Electrical Trades Group
Electrician Partially lower limb students can be
accommodated.
(e) Group No. 5 - Building & Furniture Trades Group
Plumber A person without one or two finger of
foot & hand can be accommodated.
Carpenter One upper & lower limb partially
damaged.
(f) Group No.6 - Maintenance Trades Group
Mechanic Maintenance (Chemical With one lower limb partially
Plant) damaged can be accommodated.
(g) Group No. 7-Precision Machining Trades Group
Tool and Die Maker (Die and Lower limb partially damaged only one
Moulds) side can be accommodated. Small finger of
each hand damaged can be accommodated.
Tool and Die Maker (Press Lower limb partially damaged only one
Tools, Jigs and Fixtures) side can be accommodated. Small finger of
each hand damaged can be accommodated.
(h) Group No. 8 - Instrument Trades Group
Mechanic Watch And Clock Both lower limbs
(i) Group No. 9- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trades Group
Refrigeration and Air Only one lower limb partially working can
Conditioning Mechanic be accommodated.
Small finger of each hand damaged can be
accommodated
(j) Group No. 10 - Heat Engines Trades Group
Mechanic (Diesel) Upper limb partially damaged (Little finger
and Ring Finger) can be accommodated for
both hands.
Lower limb partially damaged only one
side can be accommodated.
Tractor Mechanic Upper limb partially damaged (Little finger
and Ring Finger) can be accommodated for
both hands
Lower limb partially damaged only one
side can be accommodated.
Mechanic Motor Vehicle Upper limb partially damaged (Little finger
and Ring Finger) can be accommodated for
both hands.
Lower limb partially damaged only one
side can be accommodated
(k) Group No. 11- Draughtsmen and Surveyor Trades Group
Draughtsman (Civil) Partially without both legs or without one
leg & upper left limb damaged.
Draughtsman (Mechanical) Partially without both legs or without one
leg & upper left limb damaged.
Surveyor One lower limbs partially damaged
(l) Group No. 14-Printing Group of Trades
Offset Machine Minder One lower or one upper limb.
Process Cameraman One lower or one upper limb.
Book Binder One lower limb or both lower limbs with
artificial leg.
(m) Group No. 15-Hotel and Catering Trades Group
Baker And Confectioner One lower or one upper limb.
(n) Group No. 18- Chemical Trades Group
Instrument Mechanic With one lower limb partially damaged can
(Chemical Plant) be accommodated.
Maintenance Mechanic With one lower limb partially damaged can
(Chemical Plant) be accommodated.
Attendant Operator With one lower limb partially damaged can
(Chemical Plant) be accommodated.
Laboratory Assistant With one lower limb partially damaged can
(Chemical Plant) be accommodated.
Plastic Processing Operator One lower limb partially damaged.
(o) Group No. 20-Agriculture Trades Group
Pump Operator Cum Mechanic Upper limb partially damaged (Little
finger and Ring Finger can be
accommodated for both hands.
Lower limb partially damaged only one
side can be accommodated.
Mechanic Agricultural Upper limb partially damaged (Little
Machinery finger and Ring Finger can be
accommodated for both hands.
Lower limb partially damaged only one
side can be accommodated.
Lower limb partially damaged from one
side.
(p) Group No. 21- Leather Crafts Trades Group
Leather Goods Maker One lower or one upper limb.
Upholsterer Both lower limbs
(q) Group No. 23-Electronics Trades Group
Electronics Mechanic Without legs or leg.
(r) Group No. 26 - Beautician Trades Group
Hair and Skin Carer Partially without one lower limb &
one/two lower limbs totally damaged can
be adjusted.
(s) Group No. 28 – Painting Trades Group
Painting General One upper & lower limb partially
damaged.
(t) Group No. 29 - Computer Trades Group
Desk Top Publishing Operator Both lower limbs
Programming and Systems Both lower limbs
Administration Assistant”
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision where a physically
handicapped person registered at any Employment Exchange is declared, by either the
medical board attached to Special Employment Exchanges. for the physically
handicapped or the local Civil Surgeon (where such Medical Board has not been
constituted) to be physically fit for being engaged as an apprentice in any of the
designated trades under the Apprentices Act, 1961, he may be engaged as an
apprentice in that trade.
5. Reservation of Training Places:-
(1) In respect of each of the states specified in column (2) of the Schedule-IIA
training places shall be reserved by the employer for the Schedule Castes
and Scheduled Tribes in every designated trade so that the ratio of the
apprentices belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to the
total number of apprentices in such designated trade or trades shall be
specified in columns (3) and (4) of the said Schedule (and where there is more
than one designated trade in an establishment such training places shall be
reserved also on the basis of total number of apprentices in all designated
trades in such establishments).
Provided that when the prescribed number of persons belonging either
to the Scheduled Castes or to the Scheduled Tribes are not available, the
training places so reserved for them may be filled by persons belonging to
the Scheduled Tribes or as the case may be, to the Scheduled Caste and if the
prescribed training places can not be filled even in the above given manner,
then the training places so lying unfilled may be filled by persons not
belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.
____________________________________________
* Inserted vide GSR No. 107, dated 27th May 1998
** Inserted vide GSR No. 300, dated 23rd August 2003
2. The training places for the Other Backward Classes in designated trades shall
be reserved by the employer according to the prescribed norms followed in the
respective State or Union territory and if training places can not be filled from
the Other Backward Classes, then the training places so lying unfilled may be
filled by persons not belonging to the Other Backward Classes.
6. Registration of Contract of Apprenticeship:-
1(a) The Central Government may specify model contract form for all apprentices;
(b) The model contract form as may be specified by the Central Government
with such variation as the circumstances of each case may require, be used
for the respective purposes therein mentioned.
(2) The obligation of the employer and that of the trade apprentice shall be as
specified in Schedule-V. The terms and conditions in respect of graduate,
technician and technician (vocational) apprentices shall be as specified in
Schedule-VI.Linked Act provisions
Read with section(s) 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12. Also test enforcement under sections 30, 31 and 31A from 22 June 2026.