Rules 1-4 of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992: definitions, standard of education and standard of physical fitness

Rules 1-4 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.

Rules 1 to 4 of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 give the short title and commencement, define terms, set the standard of education for each class of apprentice (through Schedules I and IA) and set the standard of physical fitness (through Schedule II). They fill in the words "such standards of education and physical fitness as may be prescribed" in section 3(b) of the Apprentices Act, 1961.

This article is based on the consolidated copy of the Rules consulted (latest amendment marked: 20 January 2017). The Rules are amended often, so check the current Rules before relying on it.

A person is eligible to be engaged as a trade apprentice if he satisfies the minimum educational qualifications in Schedule I, and as a graduate, technician or technician (vocational) apprentice if he satisfies one of those in Schedule IA (rule 3). Rule 4 adds a standard of physical fitness in Schedule II, with provisos for institutional trainees, for certain trades and for physically handicapped persons declared fit.

Rule 1 and the opening words

Rule 1 gives the short title (the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992) and says the rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The opening words say the Central Government, after consulting the Central Apprenticeship Council, makes the rules under sub-section (1) of section 37 of the Act, in supersession of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1962, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the supersession. The copy marks the title with a note referring to G.S.R. 188(E) of 20 March 2001. The copy prints no number or date for the original 1992 notification, and none is given here. Section 37 is covered in our article on sections 34-38.

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Rule 2: definitions

Rule 2 defines terms used in the Rules. Those used in Rules 3 and 4 and the Schedules are:

Other definitions cover the National Classification of Occupations, the Registered Medical Practitioner, the Schedule and the Standard Industrial Classification. Sub-rule (10) says words not defined in the Rules but defined in the Act have the meaning given in the Act; see our articles on section 2 (apprentice, designated trade, employer and establishment) and section 2 (trade apprentice, graduate apprentice, optional trade and worker).

Rule 3: standard of education (implements section 3(b))

Sub-rule (1). A person is eligible for being engaged as a trade apprentice if he satisfies the minimum educational qualifications specified in Schedule I.

Sub-rule (2). A person is eligible for being engaged as a graduate or technician or technician (vocational) apprentice if he satisfies one of the minimum educational qualifications specified in Schedule IA.

Three provisos follow sub-rule (2):

• (a) No engineering graduate, diploma holder or vocational certificate holder who had training or job experience for a period of one year or more after attaining those qualifications is eligible for being engaged as an apprentice under the Act. The copy prints "for a period one year or more", a slip we quote as printed.
• (b) No sandwich course student is eligible for being engaged as an apprentice after passing the final examination of the technical institution, unless so approved by the Regional Central Apprenticeship Advisers.
• (c) A person who has been a graduate or technician or technician (vocational) apprentice and whose contract was terminated for any reason whatsoever is not eligible to be engaged as an apprentice again without the prior approval of the Apprenticeship Adviser.

What Schedules I and IA contain

Schedule I (see rule 3(1) and rule 7(1)) is the list of designated trades. It runs to about 1,800 lines in the copy, and it is not reproduced here. Its columns, as printed, are: serial number, designated trade, N.C.O. code number, period of apprenticeship training, the National Council for Vocational Training (or State Council) approved trades or apprenticeship trades, rebate allowed in apprenticeship training, and essential or desirable educational qualifications. As an example of how a row reads, the first row, Fitter, shows the period "Two years", a rebate of "One year" and the qualification "Passed 10th class examination with Science and Mathematics under 10+2 system of education or its equivalent", as printed in the copy of the Rules consulted (latest amendment marked: 20 January 2017). The Turner row shows the same period, rebate and qualification. These are figures from a dated copy; check the current Rules and notified trades.

Schedule IA (see rule 3(2)) has three categories. Graduate apprentices: a degree in engineering or technology from a statutory University or an institution empowered by an Act of Parliament, the graduate examination of professional bodies recognised as equivalent, or a sandwich course student training to hold such a degree. Technician apprentices: a diploma in engineering or technology (from a State Council or Board, a University, or an equivalent institute), or a sandwich course student training for one. Technician (vocational) apprentices: a vocational certificate involving two years of study after the secondary stage recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education, or a sandwich course student training for it.

Our labour law compliance team can help you check which Schedule and which row apply to an intended apprentice.

Rule 4: standard of physical fitness (implements section 3(b))

Sub-rule (1). A person is eligible for being engaged as an apprentice if he satisfies the minimum standards of physical fitness specified in Schedule II. Schedule II covers general health, height, weight and chest expansion, eyes (including a standard of vision), and other items. As printed in the copy of the Rules consulted (latest amendment marked: 20 January 2017), item (2) of Schedule II states minimum height of 137 centimeters, weight of 25.4 kilogram and chest expansion of not less than 3.8 centimeters, with a proviso that a candidate who does not meet the standards but is certified in writing by a Medical Officer not below the rank of an Assistant Surgeon (Gazetted) to be physically fit may be engaged. Schedule II is not quoted further here.

The rule has these provisos:

1. First proviso. A person who has undergone institutional training in a school or institution recognised by or affiliated to the National Council, the All India Council, a Statutory University or a State Board of Technical Education, and passed its examinations or tests, or who is undergoing such training, and who has already undergone medical examination under the admission rules of that institution, is deemed to have complied with the rule. The copy prints "in order that he may require a degree", a slip for "acquire".
2. Second proviso (marked as inserted vide G.S.R. 338 of 15 September 1997). The standards for item (4) (Ears) and item (6) (Speech) of Schedule II do not apply to a person who is deaf or dumb or deaf and dumb, for a list of trades set out under trade-group headings such as Building and Furniture, Printing, Hotel and Catering, Cutting and Tailoring and Painting.
3. Further proviso on low vision. The standard for item (3) (Eyes) does not apply to a person with low vision, as the rule defines it, for another list of trades set out by group number. We do not repeat the wording of that definition.

After these provisos, the rule carries a long list of trades grouped by trade group, each with a statement of the kind of physical impairment that can be accommodated. We describe this list and do not reproduce it.

Sub-rule (2). Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, a physically handicapped person registered at an Employment Exchange, who is declared by the medical board attached to Special Employment Exchanges for the physically handicapped (or by the local Civil Surgeon, where no such board has been constituted) to be physically fit for engagement in any designated trade, may be engaged as an apprentice in that trade.

Printing points

• Rule 3 proviso (a) prints "for a period one year or more", and rule 4 prints "require" for "acquire"; both are quoted as printed.
• The copy prints the schedule rows and the trade lists in tabular layout that breaks across pages, so a row can be separated from its heading.
• Other slips in the Rules are noted in our article on Rules 5 and 7B.

An example

Ritu, a diploma holder who completed her diploma two years ago and has worked for 14 months since, applies to be a technician apprentice at Core Machines. Reading rule 3(2), proviso (a), the HR officer notes that a diploma holder who had training or job experience of one year or more after attaining the qualification is not eligible. Core Machines cannot engage her under the Act on that ground. Her classmate Arjun, a diploma holder with no work experience since passing, meets one of the Schedule IA qualifications and is engaged after the fitness check required by rule 4.

Need help checking eligibility before you engage?

Eligibility turns on the class of apprentice, the Schedule row and the fitness standard. Our labour law compliance service can prepare a checklist for each trade you plan to train in.

Key takeaways

• Rule 3(1) points trade apprentices to Schedule I, and rule 3(2) points graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices to Schedule IA.
• Rule 3(2) has three provisos: experience of one year or more, sandwich course students, and re-engagement after termination.
• Rule 4 points to Schedule II for physical fitness, with provisos and a sub-rule for physically handicapped persons.
• Schedule I's periods and qualifications are figures from a dated copy and should be checked against the current Rules.
• These rules fill section 3(b) of the Act; see our article on sections 3, 3-A and 3-B.

Read next

• Sections 3, 3-A and 3-B: qualifications and reservation of training places
• Rules 5 and 7B: reservation and number of apprentices
• Rules 7 and 8: period of training, extension and compensation
• Labour law compliance checklist for employers

Disclaimer: Based on a consolidated text of the Apprentices Act, 1961 amended up to Act 29 of 2014, on the Gazette of India copy of the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 2014, and on a consolidated copy of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 in which the latest amendment marked is dated 20 January 2017, as consulted on 2 October 2026. Stipend rates and other figures are as printed in those texts and may have been revised; later amendments and the position under the Labour Codes in force from 21 November 2025 should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.