Over 1.55 lakh candidates have registered for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme, surpassing the initial target of 1.25 lakh for its pilot phase, according to official sources on Sunday. The portal for the scheme went live at 5 PM on October 12, and by Sunday, the number of registrations had reached 1,55,109.
The scheme is open to individuals aged 21-24 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through the portal ‘www.pminternship.mca.gov.in‘. Internships under the program are set to begin on December 2.
Participants will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for 12 months, along with a one-time grant of Rs 6,000. The ministry recently announced that more than 80,000 internship opportunities have been added across 24 sectors, including oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, and automotive.
The portal features Aadhaar-based registration and tools like bio-data generation to simplify the application process. The initial cost of the pilot phase is estimated at Rs 800 crore. Announced in the 2024 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the scheme provides an opportunity to intern with India’s top 500 companies for a duration of 12 months.
The Prime Minister Internship Scheme is a government initiative aimed at providing students and young professionals with hands-on experience in various sectors of public administration and policy-making. This program offers interns the opportunity to work closely with government officials, ministries, and departments on key projects that align with national priorities.
By participating, interns gain practical insights into governance, policy formulation, and the functioning of India’s bureaucracy. The scheme seeks to nurture future leaders by equipping them with skills, knowledge, and exposure to real-world challenges, ultimately contributing to their professional and personal growth.
