PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | PENCIL Platform 2026 — Platform for Effective Enforcement of No Child Labour: Report & Rehabilitate | pencil.gov.in |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2017 |
| Benefit | Mechanism to report and rescue child labourers + Rescued children get bridge education at NCLP centres + Vocational training + Stipend ₹150-300/month for students at NCLP centres + Mainstreaming into regular schools |
| Category | Education |
| Last Verified | 25 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://pencil.gov.in |
What is PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination?
PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is an electronic platform launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to eliminate child labour in India and rehabilitate rescued child labourers. PENCIL integrates all stakeholders — Central Government, State Governments, District administration, civil society, and public — through a single digital platform for: (1) Complaint registration about child labour (online/phone); (2) Tracking of rescued child labourers; (3) National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schools management — where rescued children aged 9-14 get bridge education, vocational training, and nutrition; (4) Real-time dashboard of child labour in districts across India. The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act 1986 (amended 2016) prohibits employment of children below 14 in ALL occupations and employment of adolescents (14-18) in hazardous occupations. PENCIL enables citizens to report child labour and track action. Rescued children are admitted to NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs) for up to 2 years bridge education before mainstreaming into regular schools.
Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Mechanism to report and rescue child labourers + Rescued children get bridge education at NCLP centres + Vocational training + Stipend ₹150-300/month for students at NCLP centres + Mainstreaming into regular schools. The scheme was launched in 2017 and is implemented by the Government of India.
Benefits of PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination
Mechanism to report and rescue child labourers + Rescued children get bridge education at NCLP centres + Vocational training + Stipend ₹150-300/month for students at NCLP centres + Mainstreaming into regular schools
Who is Eligible for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination?
- ✓Any citizen can file complaint about child labour on pencil.gov.in or call 14567 (NLSA helpline)
- ✓Rescued child labourers aged 9-14 are admitted to NCLP Special Training Centres (no eligibility criteria — all rescued children qualify)
- ✓Parents of rescued children receive counselling and livelihood support
- ✓District magistrates and labour officers implement PENCIL enforcement
Documents Required for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination
How to Apply for PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination Online?
- 1To REPORT child labour: Visit pencil.gov.in → 'Complaint' section → Fill details of location and child
- 2Alternatively, call toll-free 14567 (National Legal Services Authority helpline)
- 3District administration receives alert, conducts raid, rescues child labourers
- 4Rescued child enrolled in NCLP Special Training Centre in the district
- 5NCLP centre provides: bridge education (Class 1-8 equivalent), vocational training, mid-day meal, health check-ups
- 6After 2 years: Child mainstreamed into regular government school (Class 5-8 based on learning level)
Official Government Portal
Apply directly on the official government website. This is the only authorised portal — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
🔗Apply on pencil.gov.inFrequently Asked Questions — PENCIL — Child Labour Elimination
Related Education Schemes
PM YASASVI Scholarship Scheme 2025
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India provides scholarships to OBC, EBC, and DNT students for education in Classes 9-12.
PM POSHAN — Free Mid-Day Meal Scheme 2025
PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme) provides free hot cooked meals to students in government and government-aided schools to improve nutrition and boost school attendance.
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026 — Apply for Central Scholarships Online
The National Scholarship Portal is a one-stop platform for students to apply for all central government scholarship schemes including pre-matric, post-matric, and merit-cum-means scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students.
PM SHRI Schools Scheme 2026 — 14,500 Upgraded Schools | Smart Class + Career Counselling
PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) is a centrally sponsored scheme that upgrades 14,500 government schools across India into modern, green, and smart schools. Each selected PM SHRI school gets ₹2 crore+ for smart classrooms, digital libraries, labs, career counselling, vocational education, and NEP 2020 implementation over 5 years.