Lok Sabha Question No. 2677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2677 ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 9 TH  MARCH, 2026 PHALGUNA 18, 1947 (SAKA)

## PRIME MINISTER'S INTERNSHIP SCHEME QUESTION

2677. Ms. Sayani Ghosh:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  only  about  30  percent  of  candidates  who  accepted internship offers actually joined the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme, if so, the details thereof, round-wise and year-wise;
- (b) whether it is a fact that around 41 percent of interns dropped out midway and failed to complete the prescribed 12-month internship period, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government acknowledges that very few interns have received fulltime employment offers, with only 95 inters across rounds reportedly converted into regular jobs, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that funds allocated of PMIS are severely underutilised, if so, the total amount of funds allocated, disbursed and pending for disbursal under Scheme, year-wise; and
- (e) whether the Government has assessed the declining participating in Round-2, despite claimed improvements in transparency and incentives and if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

[SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA]

(a): In Round I of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) Pilot Project which was launched on 3 rd  October 2024, over 28,000 internship offers were accepted by candidates, and over 8,760 interns joined their internships.

In  Round  II  of  the  PMIS  Pilot  Project,  which  started  on  9th  January  2025,  over 24,600 internship offers were accepted by candidates, and over 7300 interns joined their internships.

(b): As on 27.01.2026, 54% interns of Round I and 34% interns of Round II of the PMIS Pilot Project have dropped out of their internships.

(c):  The  PM  Internship  Scheme  is  designed  to  enhance  industry-relevant  skills, improve  job  readiness,  and  foster  professional  exposure  through  structured internships  in  India's  top-performing  companies  and  institutions  to  create  job ready, skilled work force. The scheme is not designed to provide employment. (d):  Year  wise  Budget  Details  of  Prime  Minister  Internship  Scheme,  as  on 31.12.2025 are placed at Annexure. (e):  Based  on  the  learnings  during  the  implementation  of  the  Prime  Minister Internship  Pilot  Project,  following  major  steps  were  taken  to  improve  the implementation and outcomes:

-  Portal Improvement:  functionality for geo-tagging internship location, moving  vacancies  and  candidates  between  one  location  to  another  and, more visibility of additional benefits given by companies to the candidates in Round II.
-  Targeted Information, Education and Communications (IEC) activities.
-  Active  engagement  and  coordination  with  States,  UTs,  Ministries  and Departments  of  the  Central  Government  and  Industry  Associations  for enhancing the outreach of the scheme.
-  Active engagement with industry to ensure meaningful internship experience  for  the  interns  to  enhance  their  skills  and  employability, including reporting of quarterly progress of the interns by the companies on the portal.
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Annexure

Annexure to Lok Sabha Q No. 2677 to be answered on 09.03.2026.

Year wise budget details of Prime Minister Internship Scheme as on 28.02.2026 are as below:

| (Amount in Rs. Crore)   | (Amount in Rs. Crore)   | (Amount in Rs. Crore)         | (Amount in Rs. Crore)   | (Amount in Rs. Crore)   |
|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| S. No.                  | Financial Year          | Budget Allocation & Estimates | Revised Estimates       | Actual Expenditure      |
| 1.                      | 2024-25                 | 2000                          | 380                     | 29.29                   |
| 2.                      | 2025-26                 | 10831.07*                     | 526                     | 87.46                   |

*Rs.  10831.07  crore  has  been  allocated  to  the  Ministry  for  the  main  Scheme. However, the main scheme could not be commenced, and Pilot Project has been continued.

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