Rule 7A: Regulation of optional trade

Rule purpose

Rule 7A operationalises section(s) 5A 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.

[7A** Regulation of optional trade.-
      (1).  A person shall not be qualified for being engaged as an apprentice to undergo
            apprenticeship training in any optional trade, unless he-
            (a)     is not less than fourteen years of age, and for optional trades related to
                    hazardous industries, not less than eighteen years of age; and
            (b)     satisfies such physical fitness as determined by the employer.

       (2)    The minimum educational qualification for person to undergo apprenticeship
              training in optional trade shall be fifth class pass from a recognised school.

(3)    The period of apprenticeship training in the case of non-engineering graduates,
       diploma in non-engineering and vocational certificate holder shall be
       maximum one year and the period of apprenticeship training for other
       apprentices undergoing apprenticeship training in optional trade shall be
       minimum of six months and maximum of two years.

(4)    The training places shall be reserved by the employer for the Scheduled Castes
       and the Scheduled Tribes in every optional trade in accordance with the sub-
       rule (1) of rule 5 and Schedule-IIA of said rule.

(5)    The training places for the Other Backward Classes shall be reserved by the
       employer in every optional trade in accordance to the sub-rule (2) of rule 5.

(6)    It shall be obligatory on the part of employer to disclose the duration and
       syllabi of the optional trades on the portal-site.

(7)    The work diary in Format-2 as specified in Schedule-III shall be maintained
       by each apprentice and countersigned by his supervisor once in a week.

(8)    Weekly hours of work provided in sub-rule (3) of rule 12 shall be applicable
       for those apprentices possessing a degree of three or four years after
       secondary or higher secondary education or diploma of three years after 10th
       class or diploma of two years after 12th pass or a certificate in vocational
       course involving two years of study after completion of secondary stage of
       school education and undergoing apprenticeship training in optional trade and
       for all other apprentices undergoing apprenticeship training in optional trade,
       the weekly hours of work provided in sub-rule (1) and (2) of rule 12 shall be
       applicable.

(9)    No person shall be engaged as an apprentice to undergo apprenticeship
       training in optional trade unless such person or, if he is minor, his guardian
       has entered into a contract of apprenticeship with the employer and such
       contract of apprenticeship shall be uploaded on portal-site by the employer.

(10)   The minimum rates of stipend prescribed for graduate apprentices shall be
       paid by the employer to those apprentices who possess a degree of minimum
       three years duration after 10+2 system of education.

(11)   The minimum rates of stipend prescribed for technician apprentices shall be
       paid by the employer to those apprentices who possess a diploma of three
       years after 10th class or diploma of two years after 12th pass.

     (12)   The minimum rates of stipend prescribed for technician (vocational)
            apprentices shall be paid by the employer to those apprentices who possess a
            certificate in vocational course involving two years of study after completion
            of secondary stage of school education.

     (13)   The minimum rates of stipend prescribed for trade apprentices shall be paid by
            the employer to other apprentices undergoing training in optional trade
            according to their period of apprenticeship training.

     (14)   Every apprentice possessing a degree of minimum three years or a diploma of
            three years after 10th class or diploma of two years after 12th pass or a
            certificate in vocational course involving two years of study after completion
            of secondary stage of school education and undergoing apprenticeship training
            in optional trade shall follow the terms and conditions of contract of
            apprenticeship for graduate, technician and technician(vocational) apprentices
            as provided in Schedule-VI.

     (15)   Every employer and other apprentices undergoing training in optional trade
            shall have the obligations as provided in Schedule-V respectively.

     (16)   The employer shall not run a trade as optional which is a designated trade
            under the Act.

     (17)   The progress in apprenticeship training of every apprentice in optional trade
            shall be assessed by the employer from time to time and every apprentice who
            completes his apprenticeship training to the satisfaction of the employer shall
            be granted a certificate of proficiency by that employer.

Linked Act provisions

Read with section(s) 5A. Also test enforcement under sections 30, 31 and 31A from 22 June 2026.