Parliament Question: Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2677 ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 9TH 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 full– time 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 3rd 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. ******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) S. Financial Budget Allocation & Revised Actual No. Year Estimates Estimates 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. ******