The second round of the pilot phase of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) has so far seen over 1.18 lakh internship opportunities posted by partner companies on the dedicated portal, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
Tamil Nadu emerged as the leading State in terms of internship opportunities, with 15,785 postings, followed by Maharashtra at 15,187 and Gujarat at 11,672, according to data provided by Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways, in a written reply.
Round II of the PMIS pilot project, which began in January 2025, includes both newly-posted internships and unfilled opportunities carried forward from the first round, Malhotra said.
PMIS aims to provide 1 crore internships in 5 years
Announced in the 2024-25 Union Budget, PMIS is designed to offer internship opportunities to one crore youth (21-24 years) in the country’s top 500 companies over five years. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) launched the pilot phase on October 3, 2024, with a target of facilitating 1.25 lakh internships in the financial year 2024-25. The scheme is being implemented through an online portal, pminternship.mca.gov.in, which is available in 12 languages to ensure wider accessibility.
Addressing challenges from Round I
During the first round of the PMIS pilot, partner companies offered 82,077 internships, but only 28,141 candidates accepted the offers. One key challenge was the regional concentration of opportunities, with 43 per cent of internships located in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana. Many candidates were reportedly unwilling to relocate due to the low stipend of ₹5,000 per month, despite an additional one-time relocation allowance of ₹6,000.
In response, the MCA has now directed participating companies to establish dedicated PMIS cells within their organizations to improve engagement and uptake.
Industry participation
Over 300 top companies across sectors— including oil & gas, banking & financial services, travel & hospitality, automotive, metals & mining, manufacturing, FMCG, and more — have come on board to provide internship opportunities. These internships aim to offer young job seekers real-world experience, professional networking opportunities, and enhanced employability.
To boost participation in Round II, more than 70 Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) events are being conducted across districts with the highest number of internship opportunities. These events are being held at colleges, universities, ITIs, and Rozgar Melas, aligning with the qualifications required for different internships. Additionally, national-level digital campaigns featuring influencers and multiple social media platforms are underway to attract more applicants.
Internship benefits and structure
The PMIS is targeted at individuals aged 21 to 24 who are not currently enrolled in full-time education or formal employment. Each intern will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, along with a one-time relocation allowance of ₹6,000. The internships, which last a minimum of six months, combine training and on-the-job experience to help participants develop practical skills for future employment.
With the second round showing an increase in available opportunities and a more structured approach to implementation, the government is aiming for stronger participation in the coming months, economy watchers said.