The Prime Minister’s Internship scheme, introduced in the Budget for 2024-25, has seen a dramatic increase in available internships, with opportunities rising from around 16,000 on 7 October to nearly 50,000 by 9 October, according to sources in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Companies have until 12 October to list internship openings on the portal, which launched on 3 October.
This scheme is part of a broader initiative aimed at providing internships to 1 crore youth over the next five years and focuses on offering positions within the country’s top 500 companies. Interns will gain 12 months of real-world business exposure, receiving a monthly allowance of ₹5,000, alongside a one-time assistance of ₹6,000.
Over 130 companies, including major private sector players like Jubilant Foodworks, Eicher Motors, Larsen & Toubro, Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, and Muthoot Finance, have already committed to the programme. These companies are expected to cover training costs and contribute 10% of the internship expenses through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
Former finance secretary and current cabinet secretary T.V. Somanathan stated that the CSR expenditure of the top 100 companies totals ₹12,000 crore out of a total of ₹26,000 crore. “If they allocate 40% of their CSR towards skilling initiatives, it will be sufficient,” he noted in an interview following the budget presentation.
Following the scheme's announcement, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that participation would be voluntary.
Opportunities are available across 22 sectors, with the largest share in oil, gas, and energy, closely followed by travel and hospitality. Other sectors include automotive, banking and financial services, infrastructure and construction, and aviation and defence.
Internships are offered in over 20 fields, including operations management, production and manufacturing, and sales and marketing.
The first pilot phase aims to provide internships to 1.25 lakh candidates, with an estimated government cost of ₹800 crore. By early December, around 1 lakh youths are expected to be enrolled, with internships starting on 2 December and lasting one year.
Youth aged 21 to 24 who are neither employed nor studying full-time can apply. Eligible candidates include those who have completed high school, diplomas from polytechnic institutes, or undergraduate degrees. The scheme will follow the same reservation structure as government jobs.
Candidates will be ineligible if any family member earned over ₹8 lakh in the financial year 2023-24 or if any family member is a permanent or regular government employee. Graduates from prestigious institutions will also not be eligible.
Sumita Dawra, secretary of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, noted that the scheme aims to enhance employability, particularly for those who may not come from premier institutions, where recruitment typically occurs directly from campuses.
On the portal’s opening day, internship positions were available in four states: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.
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