Low Acceptance Rates in Prime Minister Internship Scheme Due to Location, Duration, and Role Fit
New Delhi, March 23, 2026 – Many candidates are not accepting offers under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) due to factors such as location, longer internship duration, and lack of interest in offered roles, according to the government.In the first and second rounds of the scheme, over 16,000 interns joined their internships, while the total number of offers made exceeded 1.65 lakh.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which implements the scheme, conducted a nationwide analysis on low acceptance rates. Findings indicated that location preferences, the 12-month internship period, and role alignmentare key reasons why candidates decline offers.
The ministry’s observations are based on independent evaluations, feedback surveys, outbound calls to candidates, and inputs from stakeholders including candidates, industry associations, and state governments.
Under the scheme, interns receive monthly financial assistance of INR 9,000, effective from March 2026. Of this, the company contributes INR 900 from its CSR or own funds, while the government provides INR 8,100. Companies can also provide additional funding if desired.
In the first round of the PMIS pilot project, over 6.21 lakh applications were received from approximately 1.81 lakh candidates. Partner companies made 82,000 internship offers to over 60,000 candidates, with 8,700 interns joining.
In the second round, over 4.55 lakh applications came from more than 2.14 lakh candidates. Companies made 83,000 offers to over 71,000 candidates, with 7,300 interns joining.
The scheme aims to provide hands-on industry experience to youth while fostering skill development and employability, though challenges like role alignment and location preferences continue to affect participation rates.
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