Archive · 17 Nov 2025
MCA Rethinks PM Internship Scheme Amid Poor Response and Budget Concerns
The government has an internship program for young people called the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS).
It's supposed to help 10 million young people get jobs by working in big companies for a year.
However, the program is having trouble starting this year because not many people are applying.
The ministry in charge is trying to make the program better by changing the rules, maybe making the internships shorter.
If they don't start it soon, they might have to give back some of the money they were given.
Some people don't apply because of where the internships are, how long they last, or if they can still study.
The ministry is learning from what has happened so far to make it better for the future.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) may not launch the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) this financial year due to poor applicant response and limited time.
The MCA is revising the scheme's guidelines, possibly reducing the internship duration, to make it more attractive to youth.
Failure to launch the scheme timely could lead to the MCA surrendering a portion of its budget allocation.
Applicant feedback indicates concerns over internship location, duration, and pursuing higher education as reasons for low acceptance.
The PMIS aims to provide year-long internships to 10 million youth in India's top 500 companies over five years.
- Who
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Indian youth, companies, Standing Committee on Finance
- What
- Redesigning and potentially delaying the launch of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) due to poor applicant response and other concerns.
- When
- Current financial year (ending soon), with launch possibly in the next year; Pilot running since October 2024.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To provide year-long internships to 10 million youth in top companies over five years, but facing challenges in attracting applicants and utilizing allocated funds.
MCA's Stance
Applicants' and Stakeholders' Concerns
Scheme Launch Timeline
MCA's Stance
MCA aims to launch within the current financial year, though acknowledging it may be unlikely and potentially pushed to next year.
Applicants' and Stakeholders' Concerns
Poor response from applicants and the limited time remaining in the financial year suggest a launch delay.
Scheme Attractiveness
MCA's Stance
MCA is actively redesigning and fine-tuning guidelines, possibly reducing internship duration, to make the scheme more appealing.
Applicants' and Stakeholders' Concerns
Feedback indicates that location, duration of internship, and the ability to pursue higher education are deterrents for applicants. Stakeholders also highlighted the need for relaxed eligibility for marginalized candidates and concerns about living expenses for those from remote regions.
Budget Utilization
MCA's Stance
MCA faces the risk of surrendering unutilized budget if the scheme is not launched timely.
Applicants' and Stakeholders' Concerns
The Standing Committee on Finance has recommended periodic independent evaluations for transparency and noted potential underutilization of funds.
- Budget Allocation FY25
- Rs 2,000 crore (BE), Rs 380 crore (RE)
- Budget Allocation FY26
- Rs 10,831 crore
- Internship Duration
- 12 months (currently, under revision)
- Financial Assistance (Monthly)
- Rs 5,000 (Rs 4,500 from govt, Rs 500 from CSR)
- One-time benefit
- Rs 6,000 on joining
- Insurance Cover
- PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima and PM Surakha Yojana
- Target
- 10 million youth in top 500 companies over five years
- First Round Offers Accepted
- 28,000 accepted, 8,700 joined