The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, launched in October 2024, is a major government initiative aimed at equipping young Indians with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in today’s dynamic job market.
This program, which aligns with the government’s broader focus on skill development and employment, offers youth valuable opportunities to gain practical experience across various industries. With a goal of creating one crore internships over five years, the scheme is part of India’s effort to bridge the gap between education and employability, addressing a critical need to prepare the next generation of professionals.
Announced during the 2024-25 Union Budget, this internship initiative marks a significant step toward empowering young people with real-world knowledge while helping them transition into professional roles.
The scheme targets students and recent graduates who are not currently engaged in full-time education or employment. According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Skill development and employment are essential needs in India. Our government is continuously working in this direction.”
With the scheme’s structured financial support and emphasis on diverse sectors, students can benefit from practical training while exploring various career paths. Here’s a breakdown of what this scheme offers and answers to some common questions that may help students better understand how they can benefit from it.
1. What is the PM Internship Scheme?
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, launched on October 3, 2024, aims to provide young Indians with crucial work experience in diverse business sectors. The initiative plans to offer one crore internship opportunities over the next five years, with 1.25 lakh internships targeted for the pilot phase in 2024-2025. The scheme is part of the government’s broader focus on skill development and employment to prepare youth for the modern economy. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Skill development and employment are essential needs in India. Our government is continuously working in this direction.”
2. Who is eligible for this internship?
The scheme is open to Indian nationals aged 21 to 24 who have completed at least high school education. It specifically targets candidates who are not employed full-time or engaged in full-time education, but those enrolled in online or distance learning programs can still apply. Eligible applicants include students with qualifications such as High School, ITI, Diploma, and Bachelor’s degrees (e.g., BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, etc.).
However, some students are not eligible, such as graduates from prestigious institutions like IITs, IIMs, and National Law Universities, or those holding professional qualifications like CA, MBBS, or MBA. Additionally, if any family member earns more than ₹8 lakh per year, the candidate is also ineligible.
3. What sectors are included in the internships?
The scheme offers internships across 24 sectors, including vital areas such as oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, automotive, and banking and financial services. This wide variety allows participants to explore different career paths, build professional networks, and gain practical experience in industries that align with their interests.
4. What financial benefits do interns receive?
Interns will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, with ₹500 coming from the partner companies based on performance and attendance, and ₹4,500 provided by the government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the intern’s bank account. Additionally, a one-time joining grant of ₹6,000 will be provided when the internship begins, also through DBT. This financial support makes the internship accessible to more students, especially those from economically weaker backgrounds.
5. What are the application and selection processes?
Students can apply through the PM Internship Portal —pminternship.mca.gov.in—which manages the entire process. After registering on the portal, applicants can explore internship opportunities and apply for up to five positions based on their preferences. The platform also uses a shortlisting process to ensure a match between candidates’ skills and the companies’ needs, with emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusivity.
Companies will select interns from the shortlisted candidates, ensuring that each intern has been carefully chosen based on both qualifications and performance in the application process.
6. What additional support is provided to interns?
All interns are covered by government insurance schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, ensuring financial security during the internship. Partner companies may also provide additional insurance benefits, offering further protection in case of accidents.
