PM Internship Scheme: Jubilant Foodworks, Maruti Suzuki, ONGC, Reliance, and Eicher Motors Among Top Recruiters

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) has gained momentum, with companies like Jubilant Foodworks Limited, Maruti Suzuki, ONGC, Reliance Industries, and Eicher Motors leading the way in offering internship opportunities. According to the latest report by the Standing Committee on demands for grants under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), these firms are among the top five participants in the scheme.

While the initiative is progressing, the parliamentary panel has highlighted several challenges, including a mismatch between available internships and actual participation, gender imbalance among interns, and underutilisation of allocated funds. The MCA has been urged to take corrective measures to address these concerns.

Internship Opportunities and Participation Trends

The pilot phase of PMIS has already seen significant participation:

• In the 1st round, 1.27 lakh internship opportunities were provided.
• In the 2nd round, 1.15 lakh internships were offered.
• Since December 2024, around 8,700 interns have joined from 28,000 candidates who accepted offers.

However, the scheme has encountered certain roadblocks, including low internship acceptance rates due to duration mismatches and misalignment of roles with candidates’ interests.

Demographics and Regional Participation

A notable gender disparity exists within the programme:

• 72% of interns are male, while only 28% are female.

Additionally, location plays a crucial role in intern participation. According to MCA feedback, an ideal travel distance of 5-10 km is preferred by candidates.

The states with the highest number of participants include:

1. Uttar Pradesh – 1,234 interns
2. Assam – 994 interns
3. Bihar – 715 interns
4. Madhya Pradesh – 693 interns

These figures indicate that while participation is strong in certain states, efforts are needed to ensure broader geographical representation.

Challenges Faced and Areas for Improvement

The MCA has identified key reasons for low acceptance rates, including:

• The long duration of internships.
• A lack of alignment between candidates’ interests and offered roles.
• Requests to lower the age criteria for applicants from ITIs and Polytechnic institutes.

In response, the MCA is conducting a concurrent evaluation of the scheme through surveys by reputed institutions like:

• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore
• Delhi School of Economics
• Symbiosis Institute of Business Management
• Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs

This evaluation aims to provide insights for better implementation and higher participation rates.

Financial Allocation and Spending

Despite the ambitious scope of PMIS, fund allocation and actual expenditure have been areas of concern:

• The budget estimate (BE) for FY 2024-25 was ₹2,000 crore, which was later revised to ₹380 crore.
• As of mid-February 2025, only ₹21.10 crore had been spent.
• For FY 2025-26, the allocation has been significantly increased to ₹10,831.07 crore.

This sharp rise in funding suggests a renewed focus on expanding the programme’s reach and addressing its shortcomings.

Way Forward: Recommendations from the Committee

The parliamentary panel has proposed several measures to strengthen the scheme:

• Encouraging all states to set up dedicated agencies for focused implementation.
• Enhancing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Conducting mass outreach programmes to ensure better awareness and participation.
• Improving internship structure to align with industry needs and candidate expectations.

With participation from 318 companies in the second round, up from 280 in the first round, the scheme is gradually expanding. However, swift and decisive action is necessary to fulfil its long-term vision of creating one crore internships in 5 years.

Conclusion

The PM Internship Scheme holds immense potential in bridging the skill gap and providing meaningful industry exposure to youth. While leading companies like Jubilant Foodworks, Maruti Suzuki, and ONGC have taken the lead, addressing challenges related to gender disparity, role alignment, and internship accessibility remains critical. With increased funding and strategic interventions, the scheme could become a game-changer in India’s workforce development landscape.

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