India’s largest corporations, including Reliance Industries, Maruti Suzuki, ONGC, Jubilant FoodWorks, and Eicher Motors, are leading the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) by providing thousands of internship opportunities.

However, despite strong industry participation, fund utilization remains alarmingly low, with only ₹48.41 crore disbursed out of the ₹2,000 crore allocated for the pilot phase, according to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.

The scheme, launched in Budget 2024-25, aims to provide one crore internships over five years. In the first phase, 1.27 lakh internship offers were made, followed by 1.15 lakh new and edited opportunities in the second round.
Among participating companies, Jubilant FoodWorks led the pack with 14,263 internships, followed by Maruti Suzuki (12,444), ONGC (6,020), Reliance Industries (5,000), and Eicher Motors (4,260).

These five companies alone accounted for over 41,000 internships, a significant portion of the total available slots.

Despite these efforts, actual participation from job seekers has fallen short of expectations. Of the 82,000 offers extended in the first round, only 28,000 were accepted, and just 8,700 candidates have joined so far. Key deterrents include distant internship locations, long duration (12 months), and skill mismatches.

The scheme provides a ₹5,000 monthly stipend (₹4,500 from the government and ₹500 from companies) and a one-time ₹6,000 grant. However, fund utilization remains a major concern. Less than 2.5% of the ₹2,000 crore allocated for FY24-25 has been spent, raising doubts about the feasibility of the ambitious ₹10,831 crore budget for FY25-26, which aims to provide 15 lakh internships.

In response to feedback, the government has introduced geotagging of locations, made company details visible on the PM Internship portal, and improved user experience. However, participation remains below expectations, with only 318 companies joining the second round—far from the 500-company target.

With major companies playing a key role but candidate participation lagging, PMIS faces a critical test in the coming months. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has urged the government to refine its strategy, enhance accessibility, and ensure that the increased budget translates into real employment opportunities for young job seekers.