Outlook Business Desk
Only 6% of students joined companies under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) despite 1.53 lakh offers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament that the offer acceptance rate stood at just 33%.
Launched in October 2024, the PM Internship Scheme aims to offer 1 crore internships in 5 years via India's top 500 companies. The pilot project targets 1.25 lakh internships in the first year under the 2024–25 Union Budget plan.
In round one of PMIS, over 1.27 lakh internships were posted, receiving 6.21 lakh applications from approximately 1.81 lakh candidates. Partner companies offered more than 82,000 internships to over 60,000 candidates, but only 28,000 accepted—and just 8,700 ultimately joined.
In round two of the PM Internship Scheme, launched on 9 January 2025, around 327 companies offered over 1.18 lakh internships. These included new and leftover roles, spanning 735 districts nationwide under the ongoing pilot phase of the scheme.
Round two received 4.55 lakh applications from over 2.14 lakh students. By 17 July 2025, companies had made over 71,000 offers, with more than 22,500 of them accepted by candidates. Offer roll-outs and onboarding are still in progress under the ongoing phase of the scheme.
Under the PM Internship Scheme Pilot Project, over 3.38 lakh candidates completed registration in Round I, while more than 3.46 lakh did so in Round II.
Several candidates backed out of the PM Internship Scheme after initially accepting offers. As per multiple reports, many applied under parental pressure rather than genuine interest. This lack of personal motivation led to a significant number withdrawing before or during the onboarding process.
Candidates aged 18–24 can apply for the PM Internship Scheme 2025. Those who’ve completed Class 10, Class 12, ITI, Polytechnic, or diploma courses are eligible. Age relaxations are available for SC, ST, and OBC applicants under government rules.
ITI applicants must have a matriculation certificate and relevant trade qualification. Diploma holders need intermediate education plus an AICTE-recognised diploma. Degree holders must have a bachelor's from a UGC- or AICTE-recognised university. Fresh graduates from non-premier colleges can also apply.