The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
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Internship is an arrangement between the intern and the company in which the company provides an opportunity to the intern to get training, gain experience and skills within the real-life environment of the business or organization that helps in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, in turn, assisting enhancement of her/his employability.
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme is a Government of India initiative aimed at providing internship opportunities to youth in top 500 companies of India. The program offers youth exposure to real-life business environments across sectors, helping them gain valuable skills and work experience. This scheme targets to offer one crore internships to youth over five years.
Eligible candidates will get internships in different roles across sectors including IT and Software Development, Banking and Financial Services, Oil, Gas & Energy, Metals & Mining, FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods), Telecom, Infrastructure & Construction, Retail & Consumer Durables, Cement & Building Materials, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Aviation & Defence, Manufacturing & Industrial, Chemical, Media, Entertainment & Education, Agriculture and Allied, Consulting Services, Textile Manufacturing, Gems and Jewellery, Travel & Hospitality and Healthcare.
Selected candidates will have the opportunity to intern with the top 500 companies from across India. Interning with these industry-leading companies will allow you to gain valuable experience, acquire new skills, and build important professional networks. The Company can also provide internship in its forward and backward supply chain and in other companies in its Group or otherwise.
Internships under the PM Internship Scheme will be for a duration of one year (12 months).At least half of the internship period (6 months) must be spent in the actual working experience/ job environment, and not in the classroom. While a certain part of the internship will include relevant training, a significant duration (at least 6 months) of your internship will focus on real-world experience in professional setups.
To apply for the PM Internship Scheme, you must meet the following criteria: • You must be an Indian citizen. • You must be aged between 21-24 years (as on the last date for submission of the application). • You must not be employed full-time or engaged in full-time education (candidates enrolled in online or distance learning programmes are eligible). • You must have completed your Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or its equivalent, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or its equivalent, or hold a certificate from an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), a diploma from a Polytechnic Institute, or a graduation degree such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, B.Pharma, etc.
Candidates enrolled in online/ distance/correspondence learning programmes are eligible to apply.
PM Internship Scheme does not have formal reservation provisions, the portal is designed to promote diversity and social inclusion. The algorithm ensures fair representation of all segments of the population, including SCs, STs, OBCs, and PwDs. The shortlisting process emphasizes diversity and inclusion, allowing companies to select candidates based on their own criteria, while the portal ensures that candidates from diverse backgrounds are considered for internships. This approach helps promote social inclusivity in the program.
As of now, the age criteria for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme are 21-24 years.
One is not eligible to apply for the PM Internship Scheme if:
- You are below 21 years or above 24 years of age (as on the last date for application submission).
- You are currently engaged in full-time employment or full-time education.
- You have graduated from specific institutions like IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, IISER, NIDs, or IIITs.
- You hold qualifications such as CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, MBA, PhD, or any master’s or higher degree (recognized by the UGC).
- You are undergoing any skill, apprenticeship, internship, or training programme under a Central or State Government scheme.
- You have already completed an apprenticeship under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) or National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
- The income of any of your family members (self, parents, or spouse) exceeds ₹8 lakh for FY 2023-24.
- Any member of your family (self, parents, or spouse) is a permanent/regular government employee (excluding contractual employees). “Government” includes Central and State Governments, Union Territory administrations, Central and State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), statutory organizations, and local bodies.
- Candidates possessing a master’s degree or having qualifications such as CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, MBBS, BDS, MBA, PhD, or any master’s or higher degree (recognized by the UGC).
- The income of any of your family members (self, parents, or spouse) exceeds ₹8 lakh for FY 2023-24. • Any member of your family (self, parents, or spouse) is a permanent /regular government employee (excluding contractual employees). “Government” includes Central and State Governments, Union Territory administrations, Central and State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), statutory organizations, and local bodies.
After joining the internship, each intern will receive a monthly assistance of ₹5,000 for the entire duration of the 12-month internship. Of this amount:
Partner companies will release ₹500 each month based on the intern’s attendance and related company policies regarding good conduct, etc.
Once the Company makes the payment, the Government will pay ₹4,500 to the candidate through the Direct Benefit Transfer to the intern’s Aadhaar seeded bank account.
Additionally, a one-time grant of ₹6,000 will be provided by the Government of India to each intern after joining the internship. This amount will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after joining the internship.
Insurance coverage shall be provided to each individual intern under insurance schemes of the Government of India, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, for which premium amount shall be provided by Government of India. In addition, the company may also provide additional accidental insurance coverage to the interns.