Nirmala Sitharaman Launches Mobile App for PM Internship Scheme, Apply and get monthly stipend of Rs.5000

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched a dedicated mobile application for the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, aimed at providing skill development opportunities to the youth. The minister urged more companies to actively participate in the initiative and also appealed to Members of Parliament (MPs) to encourage young individuals to take advantage of this scheme.

The scheme, which aims to provide 1.25 lakh internship opportunities in 2024-25, began as a pilot project on October 3, 2024. It is designed to connect young talent, especially from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with industries, allowing them to gain essential skills and understand job market requirements.

Bridging the Skill Gap in Industries

Speaking at the launch event, Sitharaman highlighted the gap between industry expectations and workforce skills. She emphasized that the PM Internship Scheme aims to bridge this gap by equipping young individuals with real-world experience.

“There is no pressure or interference on industries to participate in this scheme. It is purely in the national interest, and Indian industries should come forward to support it on a large scale,” said Sitharaman.

She also stressed the importance of making the scheme more accessible, with the website and mobile app now available in multiple languages.

Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra added that the initiative provides hands-on experience to young individuals, helping them contribute to India’s development.

Progress So Far: Over 2.45 Lakh Internship Offers

The pilot phase of the scheme has already seen impressive participation from industries:

• In the first round, companies offered more than 1.27 lakh internships.
• The second round, which began in January 2025, has seen around 327 companies posting over 1.18 lakh internship opportunities.

The deadline for applications in the second round is March 31, 2025. Initially, the last date for registration was March 12, but it has been extended to accommodate more applicants.

Financial Support for Interns

Under this scheme, interns will receive:

• A monthly stipend of ₹5,000 for 12 months.
• A one-time grant of ₹6,000.

Announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, the scheme aims to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in top 500 companies over the next five years.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, responsible for implementing the scheme, has identified these top 500 companies based on their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure over the last three years.

Corporate Affairs Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukherjee stated that more companies are expected to join the scheme. The ministry has also introduced a monitoring framework to assess the implementation of the pilot phase.

Who Can Apply?

Candidates must meet any one of the following educational qualifications:

• High School (10th) or Higher Secondary (12th) Pass
• ITI Certificate Holder
• Diploma from Polytechnic Institute
• Graduate from any discipline

Additionally, students from the following institutions can also apply:

• IITs, IIMs, IISERs, NIDs, IIITs, National Law Universities
• Students pursuing Master’s in CA, CMS, MBBS, CS, BDS, MBA, or other fields
• Students enrolled in Central/State Government skill training programs

Who Cannot Apply?

Candidates who have already completed training or apprenticeship under:

• National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

Documents Required

To apply for the PM Internship Scheme, candidates must have:

• Aadhaar Card
• Educational Certificates
• Passport-size Photograph

Application Process: How to Register?

Interested candidates can apply online by following these steps:

• Visit the Official Website – pminternship.mc.gov.in
• Select Language – Choose your preferred language from the top-right corner.
• Register – Click on ‘Youth Registration.’
• Mobile Number Verification – Enter your 10-digit Aadhaar-linked mobile number and verify it using an OTP.
• Set a Password – Create a password for future logins.
• Complete Profile – Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and bank account details.
• eKYC Verification – Complete Aadhaar-based eKYC through Aadhaar or DigiLocker.

Steps for Aadhaar eKYC

• Enter your Aadhaar number.
• Click on ‘Consent’ for Aadhaar verification.
• Read the terms and conditions carefully.
• Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
• Click on ‘Verify & Proceed’ to complete the eKYC process.

Candidates can apply for up to 5 internships at a time under this scheme.