How to apply for PM Internship Scheme: Here’s a step-by-step guide

The Central Government last week launched the pilot round of the internship scheme under Prime Minister Internship Scheme and plans to offer 1.25 lakh internships during the fiscal year 2024-25. It would provide 1 crore internship opportunities within the next five years and make unemployment among the youth as manageable as possible by offering them excellent work experience to absorb them in jobs upon the completion of their internship. Eligible applicants can apply online through the official portal.

Eligibility Criteria to PM Internship Scheme

Those aspirants who seek to be enrolled in the PM Internship Scheme must satisfy the following criteria:

• Age between 21 to 24 years.
• Not engaged in a full-time job.
• The Scheme is open to the youth who are trained at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Kaushal Kendras (skill centres).

Stipend and Benefits

• Government stipend of Rs 4,500 per month and Rs 500 more by the participating companies through CSR.
• One-time financial support of Rs 6,000 for inauspicious and incidental costs.
• Insurance cover under such schemes as PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, where the government bears the premium expense.

Process of Applying for PM Internship Scheme

All the candidates, who meet the eligibility criteria, should register themselves through the official website- www.pminternship.mca.gov.in. It will create a resume based on the input data and will enable selections of sectors, functional roles, and locations. The applicant can apply for up to five internship opportunities, depending on his choice, including sector, functional role, and location.

Shortlisting Process for PM Internship Scheme

Shortlisting will depend upon the preferred candidates and on the required needs posted by the respective companies. The process will focus more upon the less employable applicants and make greater representation from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Persons with Disabilities.

The portal will shortlist two to three times the number of internship slots available and send those resumes to the companies, which would then choose the respective candidates based on their criteria. In this process, they would communicate with the candidates through the portal.

Corporate Tie-Ups and Internship Model

Companies signing up for the PM Internship Scheme are shortlisted based on their CSR expenditure for the last three years. Companies that cannot provide internships in-house may join hands with partners in the value chain and make this happen.

The internships are for 12 months and should consist of at least 50 per cent hands-on work experience to ensure that participants become 'job ready'. Most of the stipend shall be payable by the government, and companies shall contribute this through their CSR funds.