More than 300 companies have participated in the pilot phase of PMIS to offer internship opportunities across roles and sectors | Photo Credit: Intellistudies

Final year graduate and post graduate students, between the age of 18 and 25 years will now be eligible for PM Internship Scheme (PMIS), as Corporate Affairs Ministry has expanded the eligibility criteria of the pilot phase.

“This is expected to unlock early access to structured internship opportunities in top companies across India for students, enabling them to gain hands-on industry exposure before completing their formal education,” Corporate Affairs Ministry said in a statement. Further, it said that applicants must continue to meet the existing eligibility criteria under the scheme.

Post announcement in Budget 2024-25, Corporate Affairs Ministry launched a Pilot Project on October 3^, 2024. Two rounds of the Pilot Project have been completed and Round III of the Pilot Project has started on March 20 with revised guidelines. As on March 15, 2026, over 16,060 interns joined their internship under Round I & Round II of PMIS Pilot Project. Under the PMIS, internship is paid where eligible students receive minimum financial assistance of ₹9,000 per month. Paid internships in top companies are available across sectors in India.

More than 300 companies have participated in the pilot phase of PMIS to offer internship opportunities across roles and sectors. Currently, the third round of the pilot phase is underway wherein companies are posting internship opportunities on an ongoing basis. Eligible youth between 18-25 years of age can apply through the official PMIS portal (www.pminternship.mca.gov.in) and explore internship opportunities aligned with their interests and career aspirations

According to revised guidelines, final year students are required to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective educational institutions during the application process The NOC must confirm that participation in the internship will not interfere with academic requirements Authorised signatories include Heads of Department, Deans, Principals, or Training & Placement Officers

The decision has been taken in consultation with Education Ministry while keeping in mind the philosophy of the National Education Policy (NEP). According to Corporate Affairs Ministry, NEP places significant emphasis on experiential learning, including internships, industry engagement, and hands‑on exposure, as a core component of higher education.

“By enabling students to participate in structured, paid internships while they are still enrolled, PMIS advances this objective by embedding real‑world learning into the academic journey. It supports the NEP’s goal of enhancing student employability and skill development, ensuring smoother transitions from education to work,” the Ministry said while adding that early exposure to professional environments helps students develop critical workplace competencies such as problem‑solving, communication, teamwork, and adaptability, which are essential for success in today’s dynamic economy.

“By enabling students to participate in internships while still enrolled, PMIS aims to reduce the gap between academic learning and industry expectations, enhance job-readiness at the point of graduation, provide real-world exposure to business environments, corporate processes, and professional culture,” the Ministry said.

Published on April 22, 2026