Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched a dedicated mobile application for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme and urged more companies to join the programme.
The mobile app, designed to facilitate easy access to internship opportunities, features an intuitive interface with a clean design, making it user-friendly and easy to navigate. Through the app, eligible candidates can register effortlessly using Aadhaar face authentication. Once registered, users can browse internship opportunities based on location and various criteria, which are made available through a personalized dashboard. Real-time alerts notify candidates of any new updates, while a dedicated support team is available to assist them through the application process.
During the launch event, the finance minister praised the Prime Minister’s vision of launching a series of schemes aimed at promoting employment, skills development, and opportunities for the youth. She emphasized that the PM Internship Scheme has the potential to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, ultimately improving the employability of young people in India.
She also urged industries to actively participate in the scheme, stressing that their involvement would not only help develop a skilled workforce but also contribute significantly to nation-building.
Harsh Malhotra, the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, highlighted that the launch of the PMIS app would greatly improve accessibility to internship opportunities for young people. He pointed out that the app would streamline the connection between students and top companies across India, opening up more avenues for skill development and career growth.
An exciting addition to the app is the referral program, recently announced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The program allows registered youth to refer other eligible candidates for the scheme and earn rewards. Youth who have already registered on the PM Internship portal (web version) can also participate in this referral initiative.
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, which was announced in the Union Budget for 2024-25, aims to provide internships to one crore youth in the top 500 companies over the next five years. The scheme was designed to offer paid internship opportunities and to equip young people with the skills required to bridge the gap between academic education and industry needs. The initiative began with a pilot project launched on October 3, 2024, which targeted the provision of 1.25 lakh internship opportunities for the financial year 2024-25.
This scheme offers 12-month paid internships at leading companies across India. Interns are provided an opportunity to gain valuable training, hands-on experience, and skills within real-life business environments. The internships are designed to last for at least six months and aim to help young people gain insights into industry practices while enhancing their employability. The scheme specifically targets youth aged 21 to 24 who are not currently enrolled in any full-time academic programs or employed full-time, offering them a unique chance to start their careers. Each intern is provided with monthly financial assistance of ₹5,000, along with one-time financial support of ₹6,000.
The first round of the pilot project, which took place between October and December 2024, saw over 1.27 lakh internship opportunities posted across 745 districts. About 280 companies from 25 sectors participated, offering a wide range of roles. More than 82,000 offers were extended to candidates.
Round II of the pilot project, which began in January 2025, has been even more successful. Approximately 327 companies have posted over 1.18 lakh opportunities, including new and previously unfilled roles from the first round. The opportunities cater to a wide range of qualifications, including those for graduates, ITI holders, diploma holders, 12th-grade passouts, and even 10th-grade passouts. The opportunities span various sectors such as automobile, travel and hospitality, banking and finance, and many more. Candidates can apply for roles in sales and marketing, technical positions for ITI passouts, human resources, and various other fields.
To further enhance access to the scheme, several initiatives have been introduced in Round II. The dashboard of the PMIS portal has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and provide greater details about available opportunities and roles. In addition, over 80 outreach events have been organized by officials from the MCA, state governments, and industry partners. These events have been held at educational institutes, colleges, and Rozgar Melas across the country, where youth have had the opportunity to interact directly with industry representatives and learn more about the scheme.
In Round II, a framework has also been introduced to assess the implementation of the pilot project and to recognize and reward the efforts of states and union territories in executing the PMIS. This will encourage greater participation from all regions of the country, ensuring that the benefits of the scheme are spread widely.
The application window for Round II of the internship scheme remains open until March 31, 2025. Eligible youth are encouraged to apply through the new mobile app or the PMIS portal, which is accessible at [https://pminternship.mca.gov.in/](https://pminternship.mca.gov.in/).
