Apprentice Stipend - What would be the statutory liability if we pay stipend over & above the designated limit?

Dear Experts,
Please throw some light on the following doubts:-
a) How much stipend need to be paid to Apprentices ?
b) Is it mandatory to deduct PF, ESIC, Professional Tax on Apprentices Stipend ?
c) Can we pay stipend over & above the designated limit mentioned by the Apprentices council, if we take them through Management Colleges for "Management Training Program" ?
d) What would be the statutory liability if we pay stipend over & above the designated limit?
Thanking you in anticipation.

Apprentices are to be be paid stipend as decided by the Central Govt.in this regard from time to time. Please refer the notification pertaining to your apprentice and decide.
Apprentices are not employees and as such their stipend is to be paid without deduction of PF, ESI and other payments.
There is no apprentice under the trade " Management Trainee".
If you are hiring management trainees from management Colleges, you can fix stipend as you feel okay and there is no limit for that. A trainee so hired will be an employee in all respect and whatever you pay as stipend will come under the definition of salary. As such you should deduct ESI, PF etc subject to their applicability to these trainees with regard to their remuneration.

Thanks a lot Madhu..
Also, please clarify :-
a) Can we pay stipend over & above the designated limit mentioned by the Apprentices council and What would be the statutory liability if we pay stipend over & above the designated limit?
Thanking you in anticipation.