New Delhi: The government will officially launch the Prime Minister Internship Scheme on December 2, marking a key initiative announced in the Union Budget 2024-25. The program aims to address youth employment by placing candidates in India’s leading companies.
Under the pilot phase, 125,000 internship opportunities were posted by participating companies, with 621,000 applications received. According to Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra, over 487,000 eligible candidates completed their registrations after the online portal for applications opened on October 12.
The selection process is underway, with candidates required to confirm internship offers within two days of receiving them. Interns are expected to join by November 30 to qualify for a one-time joining grant of Rs 6,000, which will be distributed during the formal launch event.
The scheme, supported by a Rs 2,000 crore budget allocation for FY25, aims to place 10 million candidates over five years. The internships target India’s top 500 companies, identified based on their average Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure over the last three years. Participation by companies remains voluntary.
Interns, aged between 21 and 24 years and with a minimum qualification of Class 10, will work for a 12-month period. The government will pay a monthly stipend of Rs 4,500 while participating companies will contribute an additional Rs 500.
The scheme is positioned as a large-scale effort to provide practical exposure to the youth and strengthen industry connections, aligning with the government’s broader employment goals. Further updates on the program’s progress and impact are expected after its formal rollout.
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