Prime Minister Internship Scheme: Big Promises, Weak Outcomes, and Many Questions

When the Prime Minister Internship Scheme was launched as a pilot project a year ago, it raised high expectations among both young people and industry. The government claimed the scheme would prepare graduates and students for employment by offering hands-on work experience in some of the country’s leading companies. However, a year later, official data raises serious questions about the scheme’s ground-level reality.

The figures show that while interest in the PM Internship Scheme has been overwhelming, the outcomes have been extremely weak. Across the first and second phases combined, nearly 7.5 lakh young people registered for the programme. On the supply side, companies did not fall short either—over 1.27 lakh internship opportunities were posted in the first phase and more than 1.18 lakh in the second. Despite this, the number of candidates who actually completed their internships is shockingly low. Against a government target of 1.25 lakh completed internships, only 2,066 candidates have managed to finish the programme so far.

This gap is not merely statistical; it points to deeper flaws in the scheme’s design and implementation. In the first phase, more than 28,000 candidates accepted internship offers, but over 4,500 dropped out midway. The situation did not improve significantly in the second phase either—by the end of November, 2,053 candidates had left their internships incomplete. The obvious question is: why are so many young participants exiting the scheme?

The government’s intent was clear—to provide real-world work experience through a 12-month internship. But the long duration, limited stipends, or unsatisfactory working conditions may be major reasons behind the high dropout rate. For many graduates, committing to a year-long internship is not economically viable, especially when they are under pressure to secure stable employment. A mismatch between the expectations of companies and interns also appears to be a critical factor. If internships become mere formalities with limited learning value, disillusionment among youth is inevitable. This explains why, despite massive registrations, the final outcomes remain dismal.

Budget cuts have further compounded concerns. The scheme was initially allocated ₹840 crore, which was later reduced to ₹380 crore. This raises questions about whether the programme received the seriousness and resources required for its success.

The objective of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme is commendable, but current data clearly shows that merely posting opportunities and attracting registrations is not enough. Internships must be made financially and professionally attractive for young people, corporate accountability must be ensured, and monitoring mechanisms need to be strengthened. Otherwise, the scheme risks becoming yet another government initiative that looks successful on paper but fails on the ground.