The IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, through its Forum of Affiliate Associations hosted an Awareness Program on “The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) under Apprentices Act, 1961: Bridging the Gap between Industry and Academia” on December 17, 2025.
The session was addressed by Dr. P. N. Jumle, Director of Training, Board of Apprenticeship Training (Western Region), Ministry of Education, Government of India.
In his address, Dr. P N Jumle mentioned the success and continuity of India’s apprenticeship and skill development framework are reinforced by periodic evaluations conducted by NITI Aayog, which show that nearly 73% of apprentices transition into employment after completing their training. The evolution of national training and apprenticeship frameworks reflects the government’s commitment to simplifying processes, reducing administrative burden, and enabling digital, transparent, and industry-friendly systems. At the same time, financial support mechanisms, including shared stipend models, underline the Finance Ministry’s focus on making skill development both sustainable and inclusive.
Mr. Snehal N. Muzoomdar, Chairman, Forum of Affiliated Associations mentioned “India aspires not only to be a Vishwaguru, but also a Skill Guru. As we aim to become a global manufacturing and innovation hub, the availability of a highly skilled workforce becomes critical”
Mr. Ajit Panicker, Co-Chairman, Forum of Affiliated Associations said “With the right partnerships between industry and academia, programmes like MATS become an opportunity to bridge the skill gap and enable people to meet the demands of a growing economy. Industries are growing, yet they struggle to find skilled people. Bridging this gap through the right skills and partnerships is critical to job creation”
