PM Internship Scheme: Just 6% joined firms against 1.53 lakh offers

Firm partner companies made more than 82,000 internship offers to more than 60,000 candidates out of which more than 28,000 candidates received offers to join the internship, and more than 8700 candidates joined their internship.

With an acceptance rate of 33 per cent on offers, a mere 6 per cent of students opted to join the firms under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday provided the figures to Parliament in a written response.

The scheme was launched by the government in the 2024-25 Union Budget for offering internship opportunities to one crore youth in the best 500 companies in five years. The pilot of the scheme was kicked off on October 3, 2024, with a vision to offer 1.25 lakh internship opportunities to the youth in a single year.

PMIS Round One Report

At round one of the PMIS, the partner firms listed over 1.27 lakh internship placements, and over 6.21 lakh applications were made by about 1.81 lakh candidates, according to the written reply. The partner firms offered over 82,000 internships to over 60,000 candidates, of which over 28,000 candidates accepted the offers to take up the internship, and over 8,700 candidates joined the internship.

PMIS Round Two Report

The second round of the PM Internship Scheme Pilot Project that was initiated on 9th January, 2025, saw response from approximately 327 partner companies that offered together more than 1.18 lakh internship opportunities—comprising both new added and previously vacant positions—over 735 districts of the country.

This season saw over 4.55 lakh applications from over 2.14 lakh prospective interns. As of July 17, 2025, more than 71,000 internship offers have been made by these partner companies, of which more than 22,500 have already been accepted. The offer roll-out and onboarding of interns is in progress.

The number of candidates who have filled up their profiles and registration process under the PMIS Pilot Project is more than 3.38 lakh in Round I and 3.46 lakh in Round II.

PM Internship Scheme 2025: Who can apply?

Applicants who have completed 10, 12, ITI, Polytechnic, or diploma can apply. New graduates from non-premier institutes can also apply. In case of ITI candidates, a matriculation certificate along with an ITI certification in a suitable trade is necessary.

Diploma graduates should have undergone their intermediate education as well as an AICTE-approved diploma. Degree graduates should have a bachelor's degree from a UGC- or AICTE-approved university. The age group for applicants should be 18 to 24 years, with relaxation for OBC, SC, and ST candidates.