PM INTERNSHIP SCHEME SEES STRONGER RESPONSE IN THIRD PILOT ROUND

August 18, 2026

The third pilot round of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) has experienced a significant surge in participation, already surpassing the combined physical joinings of the first two rounds, according to government data highlighted in reports by The Print.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE THIRD PILOT ROUND

·         Surging Joinings: Over 16,000 candidates are expected to join internships under the ongoing third round—which runs from April through December 2026—outpacing the 8,760 joinings in the first round and 7,300 in the second.

·         Lower Attrition Rates: While the initial pilot phase faced high dropout rates with more than half of candidates leaving midway, preliminary data for the third round indicates that the attrition rate has dropped to less than 10%.

·         Target and Roadmap: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has set an ambitious target of providing 1.1 lakh internship opportunities during this round, which officials expect to be the final pilot phase before a full-scale nationwide rollout.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES DRIVING HIGHER ENGAGEMENT

The stronger response follows several key policy modifications implemented prior to the launch of the third round to make the scheme more accessible and attractive:

·         Enhanced Stipend: The monthly financial assistance was increased from ₹5,000 to ₹9,000, complemented by a one-time joining grant of ₹6,000 and government-backed insurance coverage.

·         Expanded Eligibility: The eligible age criteria was broadened to 18–25 years, and eligibility was extended to include final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students to bridge the gap between academia and industry requirements.

·         Shorter Duration and Broader Network: Internship durations were revised from 12 months down to six to nine months. Furthermore, the network of participating entities was widened to include micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Global Capability Centres (GCCs), and statutory bodies like the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Eligible candidates can explore opportunities and submit applications directly through the official PMIS Portal.