NATS Stipend Reimbursement in 2026: The 50% Rule Explained

The government reimbursement percentage for the NATS stipend paid to employers in 2026 is 50% of the prescribed minimum stipend. This is the revised rate effective from April 1, 2026 .

The revision is significant. For graduate apprentices, the government share is ₹6,150 per month. For diploma and vocational apprentices, the respective shares are ₹5,450 and ₹4,800 .

Key Clarification: The ₹4,500 cap that applied under the older NATS framework has been superseded by the new exact 50% rule for the increased rates .

How the Reimbursement Works

The reimbursement is funded by the Government of India (Ministry of Education) and disbursed through the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) regional offices. The process operates on a quarterly cycle:

1. Employer pays the full stipend to the apprentice each month.
2. Monthly attendance data is uploaded on the NATS portal.
3. Quarterly reimbursement claim is filed after 3 months of data .
4. BOAT verifies attendance and training records.
5. Government transfers 50% of the stipend directly to the employer’s bank account.

The government share is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly to apprentices’ bank accounts from October 2025 onward .

Reimbursement Rates for 2026

The revised rates were confirmed through circulars issued by BOAT (Northern Region) and BoPTER (Eastern Region) in May 2026 . These rates replaced the earlier rates of ₹7,000, ₹8,000, and ₹9,000 respectively .

How Employers Claim Reimbursement

Reimbursement claims are filed quarterly through the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in. The claim is only accepted if all three months of the quarter have attendance data uploaded .

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Log in to the NATS portal as “Establishment”.
2. Navigate to the “Reimbursement” section.
3. Select the claim quarter (Q1: April–June, Q2: July–September, Q3: October–December, Q4: January–March).
4. The portal auto-populates the list of enrolled apprentices for whom attendance has been uploaded.
5. Upload bank transfer proof showing stipend payment to each apprentice. Cash payments do not qualify for reimbursement.
6. Submit the claim. You receive an acknowledgement number.
7. BOAT verifies the claim – typically taking 30–45 days.
8. The government transfers the reimbursement directly to the company’s registered bank account.

Key Takeaways

• Reimbursement Percentage: 50% of the prescribed minimum stipend, effective April 1, 2026.
• No Cap: The ₹4,500 cap is superseded by the exact 50% rule.
• Disbursement Method: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to apprentices’ bank accounts.
• Claim Period: Quarterly, with mandatory monthly attendance uploads.
• Legal Basis: Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and informational purposes only, based on available Central and State notifications as of August 2026. It is not formal legal counsel. Please consult a qualified lawyer for advice tailored to your establishment’s specific operations.