Rules 6 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.
These five rules turn the Act's duties on contracts, trainers and records into forms and standards. Rule 6 deals with the model contract and the obligations in Schedules V and VI. Rules 9 and 9A set the qualifications of the person in charge of training and the staffing pattern of instructional staff. Rule 10 requires a daily record of work from graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices. Rule 14 lists the records and returns.
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.
The Central Government may specify a model contract form (Format-1 of Schedule III in the copy), and the employer's and apprentice's obligations sit in Schedules V and VI. The person in charge of training must have the Schedule IV qualifications, and instructional staff follow the Schedule IV A pattern. Graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices keep a daily record of work. Under rule 14, the contract is forwarded on the portal-site for registration, and work diary, attendance register and quarterly report are kept.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | What it does | Section implemented |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Model contract; obligations in Schedules V and VI | Section 4 |
| 9 | Qualifications of the person in charge of training (Schedule IV) | Section 11(b) |
| 9A | Staffing pattern and qualifications of instructional staff (Schedule IV A) | Section 11(bb) |
| 10 | Daily record of work by graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices | Section 12(2)(d) |
| 14 | Records and returns, with Format-1, Format-2 and Form Apprenticeship (Schedule III) | Sections 4 and 19 |
Our labour law compliance team can turn this list into a simple records checklist for your establishment.
Rule 6: model contract and Schedules V and VI (section 4)
Rule 6 is headed "Registration of Contract of Apprenticeship". Sub-rule 1(a) says the Central Government may specify a model contract form for all apprentices; 1(b) says the model form, with such variation as the circumstances of each case may require, shall be used for the respective purposes. The copy prints the sub-rule as "1(a)" and "(b)". Sub-rule (2) says the obligations of the employer and the trade apprentice are as in Schedule V, and the terms and conditions for graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices are as in Schedule VI.
The copy's Schedule III begins with Format-1, "Model Contract of Apprenticeship Training for Major/Minor Apprentices". It asks for the establishment's name and address, the apprentice's name, parent or spouse name, address, gender, date of birth, a category question, educational and technical qualifications, the date of execution of the contract and age on that date, the trade, the duration and period of training, the rates of stipend for the first, second, and third and fourth year, the name and address of the guardian (for a minor) and of a surety, and a declaration. Section 4 of the Act (contract, registration) is explained in our article on section 4.
Schedule V (see rule 6) lists the obligations of the employer for major and minor trade apprentices, such as arranging practical training, releasing the apprentice for related instruction with class time treated as paid work, paying stipend at the rate specified under the Rules, payment by the 10th day of the following month, hours of work and compensation on termination for the employer's failure. Schedule VI (see rule 6) sets the terms of the contract for graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices: a one-year period (sandwich students as per curriculum), no obligation to offer or accept employment, the trainee status, conduct, a record of work, refund of cost of training, termination without compensation in stated cases, and the stipend.
Slips in the Schedules. Schedule V says "Under section II of the Apprentices Act, 1961" and "rule II",; the numerals do not match the numbering of the Act and the Rules as printed elsewhere, and we quote them as printed without correcting them. Parts of Schedules V and VI repeat older wording on hours, short-term apprentices and employment, and Schedule VI paragraph 2 refers to "section (22) of the Act". These Schedules are quoted only briefly and as printed.
Rules 9 and 9A: persons in charge and instructional staff (section 11)
Rule 9 says a person placed in charge of the training of apprentices by the employer shall possess the qualifications specified in Schedule IV, and shall be of the appropriate level commensurate with the number of seats (the copy prints "located" for "allocated") for apprenticeship training and the size of the establishment. See our article on section 11.
Schedule IV (see rule 9) sets the qualifications for the person in charge by class. As printed, for trade apprentices he must possess a degree or diploma in engineering or technology (or equivalent recognised by the Government of India), or a National Apprenticeship Certificate with minimum five years' experience; for graduate apprentices a degree in engineering or technology (or equivalent); for technician and technician (vocational) apprentices a degree or diploma in engineering or a certificate in vocational courses (or equivalent). The person in charge may be assisted by shop floor or workshop personnel, and it is desirable that the person in charge should have industrial experience.
Rule 9A (printed "9 a", marked in the copy as inserted vide G.S.R. 190(E) of 26 February 1999) says the staffing pattern and qualifications of instructional staff for practical and basic training shall be as in Schedule IV A**. As printed in the copy of the Rules consulted (latest amendment marked: 20 January 2017), Schedule IV A provides for a basic training centre: one trade instructor for every 16 apprentices, one drawing instructor for every 150, one instructor (workshop calculation and science) for every 150 and one social study instructor for every 400; and for shop floor training including related instruction: one trade instructor for every 40 apprentices and one each of the drawing and calculation instructors for every 150. These are ratios from a dated copy, not current limits. Qualifications are also given for trade instructors, drawing instructors and workshop calculation and science instructors.
Rule 10: daily record of work (section 12)
Rule 10 says every graduate or technician or technician (vocational) apprentice shall maintain a daily record of the work done by him relating to the apprenticeship training in the form of a workshop or laboratory note book. It fills the words "records of his work as may be prescribed" in section 12(2)(d); see our article on section 12.
Rule 14: records and returns (sections 4 and 19)
Rule 14 (marked in the copy as substituted vide G.S.R. 63(E) of 20 January 2017, and the latest amendment marked in the copy) has four sub-rules:
| Sub-rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (1) | The contract of apprenticeship, as per Format-1 of Schedule III, is forwarded on the portal-site by the employer for registration |
| (2) | A work diary in Format-2 (the copy prints "Work dairy") is maintained by each trade apprentice and optional trade apprentice and countersigned by his supervisor once in a week |
| (3) | Every employer maintains a register of attendance; action taken for irregular and unauthorised absence is recorded at the end of each month |
| (4) | Every employer maintains a record of the work done and training undertaken by graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices for each quarter, and at the end of each quarter sends a report in the Form Apprenticeship (Schedule III) to the Director, Regional Board of Apprenticeship Training concerned |
Format-2 asks for the establishment, the apprentice, the trade, a registration number, and by week the competencies covered and the supervisor's signature. The Form Apprenticeship, "Record of progress of apprentice", is to be submitted once a quarter and asks for the area of training, aptitude, performance, shortcomings, reaction to corrective action, an assessment from a stated scale, and signatures. The Rules name no website for the portal-site. Section 19 of the Act is explained in our article on sections 19-20.
The four Labour Codes are in force from 21 November 2025; check the current position before relying on any other labour law.
An example
Prism Engineering takes a trade apprentice, Mohit, and a graduate apprentice, Divya. For Mohit, Prism signs the contract in the model form, forwards it on the portal-site for registration under rule 14(1), and has Mohit keep a weekly work diary countersigned by his supervisor. For Divya, rule 10 requires her to keep a daily note book, and at quarter-end Prism sends the quarterly report in the Form Apprenticeship to the Regional Board. Prism's training head, a degree holder in engineering, is placed in charge of training, as Schedule IV requires, and its trade instructor ratio is checked against Schedule IV A in the current Rules.
Need help setting up apprentice records?
A set of ready formats, a calendar for weekly countersigning and quarterly reports, and a clear owner for each record keep an establishment in order. Our labour law compliance service can help you build them.
Key takeaways
- Rule 6 provides for a model contract form and puts the obligations in Schedules V and VI.
- Rule 9 and Schedule IV fix the qualifications of the person in charge of training; rule 9A and Schedule IV A fix the staffing pattern.
- Graduate, technician and technician (vocational) apprentices keep a daily record of work (rule 10).
- Rule 14 requires forwarding the contract on the portal-site, a weekly work diary, an attendance register and a quarterly report.
- Schedule V has slips ("section II", "rule II") that are quoted as printed.
Read next
- Section 4: contract of apprenticeship and registration
- Sections 19-20: records, returns and settlement of disputes
- Section 11: obligations of employers
- Stamp duty on apprenticeship deed
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.