“We Need to Give Confidence to Our Youth” – Nirmala Sitharaman
New App to Enable Easy Access to Internships in India’s Top 500 Companies
🔹 A Major Push for Youth Employment & Skill Development
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) mobile app on Monday, marking a significant step toward bridging the gap between young talent and India’s top corporate firms.
“We need to give that confidence to our youth, to help them understand what it takes to enter India’s top 500 companies,” said Sitharaman at the launch event.
The PMIS scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, aims to provide one crore paid internships over five years, offering young Indians direct exposure to industry-led training and employment opportunities.
🔹 Key Features of the PMIS App
The newly launched PMIS app is designed to simplify the internship application process with several user-friendly features:
✅ Intuitive Interface & Easy Navigation – Candidates can explore opportunities based on location and industry preferences.
✅ Seamless Registration – Aadhaar-based face authentication for quick sign-up.
✅ Personalized Dashboard – Users can track applications, progress, and upcoming opportunities.
✅ Real-Time Alerts – Notifications for new internship openings and application deadlines.
The app is also available in multiple Indian languages, ensuring accessibility beyond metropolitan cities.
“You cannot limit students to English. Every language in India should have its dominance,” Sitharaman noted.
🔹 What the PMIS Internship Offers
📌 12-month paid internships in India’s leading corporates, MSMEs, and startups
📌 Target group: Youth aged 21 to 24, not enrolled in full-time education or employment
📌 Financial Assistance:
- Monthly stipend of ₹5,000
- One-time ₹6,000 financial aid
📌 CSR Funding Model: Companies will fund 10% of internship costs through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds
As a pilot phase, 1.25 lakh internship opportunities were introduced on October 3, 2024, and are now being expanded nationwide.
“This internship program is for those who, until now, lacked opportunities due to lack of training or skill development,” the Finance Minister said.
🔹 Corporate India Urged to Participate
Sitharaman encouraged corporate leaders to actively engage in the PMIS scheme, emphasizing the role of industry in shaping India’s workforce.
“India’s demographic dividend should be leveraged to enhance industry productivity and shape a skilled workforce for the future,” she urged.
The internship initiative is part of the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, focusing on:
✅ Enhancing skill-based learning
✅ Promoting employment in manufacturing & services
✅ Expanding industry-academia collaboration
With the launch of the PMIS app, the government aims to make skill-building and career opportunities more accessible to India’s youth, further driving the nation’s growth story.