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PM Internship Scheme 2025: Why Are So Few Students Taking Up These Top Company Offers?

Fresh data presented to Parliament highlights a significant challenge for the ambitious PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) 2025. Despite companies making thousands of offers under this government initiative, actual student uptake remains surprisingly low. Let’s explore the scheme’s goals, current performance, and who can apply.

The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) 2025, a flagship initiative announced in the last Union Budget, aims to place one crore young Indians in top companies over five years. However, recent Parliament data reveals a concerning participation gap.

Launched as a pilot in October 2024, the scheme’s first round saw impressive initial interest:
Companies posted over 127,000 internship openings.
A massive 621,000 applications poured in from roughly 181,000 candidates.
Companies extended more than 82,000 offers to around 60,000 candidates.
Yet, only about 28,000 candidates accepted these offers.

Most strikingly, just 6% of the students who applied (around 8,700) actually started their internships – despite an offer acceptance rate of 33%.
The second pilot phase, starting January 2025, shows ongoing activity but similar trends:
About 327 companies participated, listing over 118,000 positions (new and unfilled from Round 1) across India.
Over 214,000 candidates submitted 455,000 applications.
By mid-July 2025, companies had made over 71,000 offers, with roughly 22,500 accepted so far.
Onboarding is still in progress.
Overall, profile completion and registration were strong, with over 338,000 candidates in Round 1 and 346,000 in Round 2.

Who Can Apply for the PM Internship Scheme?
This scheme targets a wide range of young learners and graduates:
School Leavers: Students who have completed Class 10 or Class 12.
Vocational Trainees: Individuals holding an ITI certificate in a relevant trade (requires Class 10 pass).
Diploma Holders: Those with an intermediate pass plus a diploma approved by AICTE.
Graduates: Holders of a Bachelor’s degree from a UGC or AICTE-recognized university (especially fresh graduates from non-premier institutions).
Age Limit: Generally between 18 and 24 years. Relaxations apply for OBC, SC, and ST candidates.

Key Takeaway: While the PMIS 2025 presents a massive opportunity for hands-on experience with leading companies, bridging the gap between offers made and internships commenced is crucial for its success. If you meet the eligibility criteria, this could be your chance to gain valuable corporate exposure!