The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has expanded the eligibility criteria of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), allowing final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students to apply for paid internships in leading companies across India.
The move, announced during the pilot phase of the scheme, aims to provide early industry exposure to students and strengthen their employability before completion of formal education.
The decision was taken in consultation with the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.
Under the revised guidelines, final-year students aged between 18 and 25 years are now eligible to apply, subject to existing criteria. Applicants will be required to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective institutions, confirming that participation in the internship will not affect their academic commitments. The NOC must be issued by authorised officials such as Heads of Department, Deans, Principals or Training and Placement Officers.
The MCA said the changes are aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP), which emphasises experiential learning, industry engagement and skill development as key components of higher education.
Officials noted that enabling students to undertake structured internships during their academic programmes would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, while equipping them with essential workplace skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork.
The Prime Minister Internship Scheme is a flagship initiative aimed at providing structured, paid internship opportunities to youth across the country. Interns under the scheme receive a minimum financial assistance of ₹9,000 per month.
More than 300 companies have participated in the pilot phase, offering internships across multiple sectors. The third round of the pilot is currently underway, with companies continuing to post opportunities on the PMIS portal.
Eligible candidates can apply through the official portal to explore internship opportunities aligned with their interests and career goals.
