Introduction
The Government-run PM Internship Scheme, launched by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, provides 12-month internships to 1.25 lakh youths aged 21–24 across 549 companies in 24 sectors. This article explains the program structure, financial support, eligibility criteria, application process and the prominent companies enrolled, so eligible candidates can understand how to apply and benefit.
Program overview and financial support
The PM Internship Scheme is a large-scale, centrally run initiative designed to place 1.25 lakh young Indians into supervised 12-month internships across a diverse set of industries. The scheme spans 549 companies operating in 24 sectors, creating a broad framework for placements and engagement. The duration for every selected participant is fixed at 12 months under the scheme.
Financial support under the scheme is clearly defined and uniform for participants. Each intern receives a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000, paid for the full internship period. In addition to the recurring stipend, participants are provided a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 6,000. This combination of monthly stipend and one-time assistance is intended to support interns through the 12-month engagement period.
By specifying the total number of internships (1.25 lakh) and the number of participating firms (549) across 24 sectors, the scheme establishes both scale and sectoral diversity. The inclusion of top companies such as Reliance, TCS, HDFC Bank, ONGC, Infosys and many others indicates participation from prominent corporate employers, offering a wide array of placement possibilities across sectors represented within the program.
Eligibility, application process, and participating companies
Eligibility for the PM Internship Scheme focuses on youth who are currently unemployed and meet the prescribed age and family income conditions. The scheme targets candidates aged 21–24. Applicants must be currently unemployed and belong to families with an annual income up to ₹8 lakh per annum. Educational eligibility is defined according to internship requirements and includes candidates with ITI credentials, diploma holders, and those with bachelor degrees, as applicable for specific placements.
The application process is centralized and digital. Interested candidates must apply through the official portal at pminternship.mca.gov.in. The portal requires applicants to register using their mobile number and complete e‑KYC using either Aadhaar or DigiLocker. This digital e‑KYC method ties identity verification to Aadhaar or DigiLocker records and the applicant’s mobile number, ensuring a streamlined and standardized onboarding process for the internships provided under the scheme.
Regarding participating organizations, the scheme lists a range of major private and public sector companies among the 549 enrolled employers. Notable names explicitly included are Reliance, TCS, HDFC Bank, ONGC, Infosys, along with many others. These companies operate across the 24 sectors covered by the scheme, supplying numerous placement slots that together sum to the 1.25 lakh internships available under the program.
To summarize the application essentials: applicants should verify that they fit the age, unemployment and family income criteria, confirm educational eligibility relevant to desired internships (ITI, diploma or bachelor where applicable), and then register on the official portal using a mobile number with Aadhaar or DigiLocker e‑KYC to complete the submission process.
The interrelation of eligibility, the digital application channel, and the roster of participating firms underlines the scheme’s intent to place a large number of eligible youths into structured 12-month internships while providing defined financial assistance during the engagement period.
Conclusion
The PM Internship Scheme launched by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offers 12-month internships to 1.25 lakh youths aged 21–24 across 549 companies in 24 sectors, with a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000 and a one-time assistance of Rs. 6,000. Eligible unemployed applicants with family income up to ₹8 lakh p.a. and appropriate educational qualifications can apply via pminternship.mca.gov.in using mobile and Aadhaar/DigiLocker e‑KYC. This centralized process connects candidates to top companies like Reliance, TCS, HDFC Bank, ONGC and Infosys.
