New Delhi: The third pilot round of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) has seen more than 30,000 candidates join participating companies, with the number expected to approach 40,000 by the end of October, ThePrint has learnt.
The improved response follows changes to the scheme’s structure, including higher monthly stipends, shorter internship durations, a wider pool of participating organisations and greater flexibility for candidates and employers. Partnerships with industry associations and professional bodies have also helped expand participation, a senior government official, aware of the development, told ThePrint.
“The response cannot be attributed to any single factor. The changes made to the scheme’s design, greater industry participation, positive word of mouth and more flexible joining arrangements have collectively helped attract candidates.”
The third pilot round, which began in April, has already recorded more than twice the number of candidates who joined in either of the first two rounds. A total of 8,760 candidates joined companies in the first round, while 7,300 enrolled in the second.
The latest round is also showing encouraging signs of retention, with preliminary government data indicating that the attrition rate has fallen to around 10 percent, the official said.
In the first pilot round, around 4,700 of the 8,760 candidates who joined subsequently dropped out. Whereas, in the second round, 2,464 of the 7,300 candidates who physically joined their allotted companies left before completing their internships, an attrition rate of 33.7 percent.
The government hopes higher participation and lower dropout rates will strengthen the scheme, which aims to improve youth employability through practical workplace experience. Launched in October 2024, the PMIS aims to offer one crore internship opportunities over five years once fully rolled out.
The third pilot round is expected to bring the scheme closer to its target of 1.1 lakh enrolments for the round, although the final assessment will depend on the numbers recorded when the round concludes.
The third round could be the last pilot phase before a full rollout, but the government has not taken a final call on the next steps, the above-mentioned official said. The internship offers will continue to be posted until December, while candidates can join participating companies until January 2027.
Higher stipends, flexible timelines widen participation
The government revised the scheme in March to address some of the barriers to participation. The monthly stipend was increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000, the eligible age group was widened from 21–24 years to 18–25 years, and the internship duration was reduced from one year to six-nine months.
The duration of an internship depends on the participating employer and is specified when the opportunity is advertised, allowing candidates to assess the duration before applying.
The third round also allows companies to post internship openings anytime, while giving candidates greater flexibility in joining dates.
This has made it easier for companies to recruit candidates according to their requirements and for young people to take up opportunities that suit their circumstances, the official said.
In addition to private companies, the scheme now includes statutory bodies such as the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), global capability centres (GCCs) and professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
The eligibility criteria for companies have also been expanded, increasing the pool of potential employers from 500 to 2,000 based on their corporate social responsibility spending.
Participation has been particularly encouraging in sectors such as IT services and manufacturing, the official said. Industry associations are also helping MSMEs connect with prospective interns and facilitate recruitment through their networks.
Outreach through MY Bharat, the government’s youth engagement platform, has provided another channel for mobilising applicants. According to a government parliamentary reply in July, nearly 98,000 young people were mobilised through the PMIS-MY Bharat collaboration, of whom 8,428 applied for internships through the scheme’s portal.
While the latest figures point to a stronger response, the scheme’s future beyond the pilot phase will be assessed after the conclusion of the third round.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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