Parliament Question: Withdrawal of Internship by Applicants under PMIS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3923 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 18TH AUGUST, 2025 SRAVANA 27, 1947 (SAKA) ‘WITHDRAWAL OF INTERNSHIP BY APPLICANTS UNDER PMIS’ QUESTION

3923. Shri Pradyut Bordoloi:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of applications received and accepted under the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) across the country and particularly from the North Eastern Region

(NER);

(b) the total number of applicants who withdrew from the scheme after being offered internships with particular reference to NER;

(c) whether the Government has undertaken any surveys or exercises to determine the reasons for withdrawal by the applicants from the scheme; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS [SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA]

(a): The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) announced in the Budget 2024- 25, 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 in one year.

In the first round of the Pilot Project, which commenced from 3rd October, 2024, more than 1.27 lakh internship opportunities were posted by the partner companies across 745 districts in all States/ UTs of the country. Against these, approximately 6.21 lakh applications were received from more than 1.81 lakh applicants. In this round, over 28000 applications were received from over 8100 candidates belonging to the North Eastern Region.Based on the requirements sought by the companies in the internship opportunities offered and the qualifications of the applicants, in the first round of the Pilot Project, partner companies made over 82000 internship offers and over 28000 candidates accepted offers to join the internship. Out of 4200+ offers made, more than 2000 offers were accepted by candidates from the North Eastern Region.

In the second round of the PM Internship Scheme Pilot Project, which commenced on 9th January, 2025, about 327 Partner Companies have posted over 1.18 lakh internship opportunities (new and edited unfilled opportunities of previous round) across 735 districts of the country. Over 4.55 lakh applications were received from over 2.14 lakh applicants, across the country.

Out of this, over 12000 applications were received from about 5100 candidates belonging to the North Eastern Region.

As on 12.08.2025, partner companies have made over 82000 internship offers and over 24000 candidates have accepted offers to join the internship. Out of 3500+ offers made, more than 1500 offers have been accepted by candidates from the North Eastern Region.

(b): In round I of the PMIS Pilot Project, about 32700 candidates did not accept the offer to join the internship. In the North Eastern Region, over 1000 candidates did not accept the offer to join the internship.

In round II, currently, rolling out of offers and the process of acceptances/ joining by interns is in progress.

(c) to (d): On the basis of concurrent evaluation and feedback survey carried out by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, outbound calls made by the call center to the candidates and feedback received from various stakeholders, such as candidates, industry & industry associations and state governments, the reasons for applicants not accepting the offer or not joining the internship are location considerations, duration of internship, pursuance of higher education etc.

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