Jubilant FoodWorks led with 13,658 PM Internship opportunities

Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) witnessed a notable decline in internship offer acceptances during the second round of its pilot phase.

According to data shared by the government in Parliament, acceptance rates fell by 12.4 percentage points compared to the first round. While 34 per cent of offers were accepted earlier, the figure dropped to 29 per cent in the second round, despite a marginal increase in the total number of offers made.

The scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2024–25, aims to provide internship opportunities to 10 million youth across India over five years through partnerships with the country’s top 500 companies.

Challenges Impacting Take-Up Rates

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) acknowledged several factors contributing to the lower acceptance rates. These include the long duration of internships and a mismatch between candidates’ interests and the roles offered.

Additionally, industrial training institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics have urged the government to lower the age eligibility criteria to widen participation.

The ministry has been actively promoting the scheme by collaborating with state governments, central ministries, and industry associations, along with conducting workshops, seminars, and outreach campaigns to enhance awareness and participation.

Regional Trends and Corporate Participation

State-wise data from the second round showed Tamil Nadu posting the highest number of internship opportunities at 15,785.

However, Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of offers accepted at 9,330, followed by Odisha (7,242) and Uttar Pradesh (7,085).

Among corporates, Jubilant FoodWorks led with 13,658 internship opportunities, followed by Power Grid Corporation of India (7,880) and HDFC Bank (6,800).

Over 70 new companies joined the programme in the second round. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified in Parliament that PMIS is not a placement scheme, though companies may offer appointments based on suitability and business requirements.

The full-scale rollout is expected to incorporate lessons from both pilot rounds.

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