Exploring the Challenges of the PM Internship Scheme Rollout

The PM Internship Scheme faces challenges with applicants not accepting offers due to location, duration, and education pursuits. Despite over 6 lakh applications, fewer candidates join internships. Feedback from candidates and stakeholders will shape the scheme's full-scale rollout, aiming to offer 1 crore youth opportunities in top companies by 2029.

The government revealed on Monday that location and duration are among the reasons applicants are declining offers under the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS). Initially announced in the 2024-25 Budget, the scheme aims to provide 1 crore youth with opportunities in 500 top companies within five years. It is led by the corporate affairs ministry.

The PMIS pilot project, which started on October 3, 2024, seeks to offer 1.25 lakh internships to young people within a year. In the first round, 280 companies offered over 1.27 lakh internships. Over 6.21 lakh applications were received, but only 28,000 candidates accepted offers and joined.

Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra reported that feedback from stakeholders and an evaluation process will inform the scheme's full implementation. As of August 2025, efforts continue to address issues such as location and the pursuit of higher education that hinder applicant participation.

(With inputs from agencies.)