Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Initiatives to Enhance PM Internship Scheme
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 162 ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2025 MAGHA 14, 1946 (SAKA)

## INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE PM INTERNSHIP SCHEME QUESTION

162.  Shri Anurag Singh Thakur:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of initiatives taken by the Government to further enhance the PM Internship Scheme, particularly in terms of expanding the number of internships available,  increasing  sectoral  representation  and  aligning  the  scheme  with emerging industries and skill demands;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  barriers  such  as  geographic,  socioeconomic or digital divides that prevent under-represented groups from participating  in  the  PM  Internship  Scheme  and  if  so,  the  details  of  targeted measures being considered to address these challenges, ensuring inclusivity and diversity among interns; and
- (c)  the  details  of  these  measures,  including  timelines,  funding  provisions,  and collaborative frameworks with other stakeholders?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

[SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA]

- (a): The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme (PMIS) was announced in the Budget 2024-25.  It aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in top 500  companies  in  five  years.  As  an  initiation  to  this  Scheme,  Ministry  of Corporate Affairs has launched a Pilot Project of the Scheme on 3rd October, 2024, which is targeted to provide 1.25 lakh internship opportunities to the youth in  the  Financial  Year  2024-25.  The  Scheme  is  being  implemented  through  an online portal https://pminternship.mca.gov.in.

Partner Companies for the PM Internship Scheme- Pilot Project, include the top 500 companies selected on the basis of average Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure in the last 3 years, which covers a large number of diverse sectors  including  Aviation  and  Defence,  Automotive,  Banking  and  Financial

Services,  Chemical  Industry,  Oil,  Gas  and  Energy  etc.  Further,  to  promote internships in emerging sectors, Scheme guidelines have a provision that any company/ bank/ financial institution desirous of participating in the Scheme may approach  the  Ministry  of  Corporate  Affairs  (MCA),  which  would  take  a  view keeping in view underrepresented sectors.

- (b)  &  (c):  The  PM Internship Scheme Portal (Portal) is accessible in 12 different languages,  to  enhance  inclusivity  from  different  geographical  regions  of  the country. Further, in the first round of the PMIS Pilot Project more than 1.27 lakh internship opportunities have been provided by the Partner Companies across 745 districts in all States/ UTs. As per the Guidelines of the PMIS- Pilot Project, a pool of candidates based on the number of applications received from all parts of the country, is shortlisted for each internship opportunity through the Portal. The shortlisting process is aimed at promoting diversity and social inclusivity in the  internship  program  through  providing  for  representation  of  Scheduled Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  Other  Backward  Classes  as  well  as  Persons  with Disabilities in the shortlist sent to the concerned company for further selection as per their respective processes and criterion.

An  amount  of  Rs.  840  crores  has  been  approved  by  the  government  for implementation of the PM Internship Scheme - Pilot Project. The first round of the Pilot Project commenced from 3 rd  October, 2024. The Second round of the PM Internship Scheme -Pilot Project has started from January 9 th , 2025.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs is actively working with various stakeholders such as  state  governments,  central  government  ministries  &  departments,  and industry  associations  for  promotion  and  implementation  of  the  scheme.  The Ministry  is  also  carrying  out  Information,  Education  and  Communication activities to reach out to the target groups across the country.

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