Paid Internships in India: Stipends, PM Scheme and Checks

Last updated: 21 September 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

What are paid internships?

Paid internships are work placements in which interns receive financial compensation for their time and effort, such as a monthly stipend or an hourly wage. Naukri Campus defines them this way, and describes unpaid internships as ones where interns receive no money but gain experience and networking.

This guide covers what paid internships pay according to the sources we could open, what official pages say about unpaid ones, how the PM Internship Scheme works, and how to confirm a stipend. It is written for Indian students and freshers, and it flags where numbers are weak.

How much do paid internships pay in India?

Pay varies by sector and employer, and the published figures are rough. Naukri Campus's paid versus unpaid guide gives these monthly ranges by sector. The page we read shows no date or method.

Treat this as orientation, not a promise. Company size, city, your skills and the length of the internship all change the number, and we could not verify a survey that measures them.

Our separate guide on the internship stipend, internship stipend in India, covers how to research a fair range for your case.

What do official sources say about unpaid internships?

The official pages we opened do not set one pay rule for every internship. The University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on university-industry linkage, reported by Careers360 on 11 January 2024, say: "Companies need to be encouraged to offer paid internships to students and make the internships sustainable."

The same guidelines add that companies may treat internships as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and are advised to ensure accident insurance protection. That is encouragement and advice, not a minimum stipend.

Naukri Campus says paid internships are typically covered under labour law protections and that unpaid internships have unclear legal standing in India. We could not check that against the law itself. This is not legal advice, so ask your college placement cell or a lawyer if a specific offer worries you.

What is the PM Internship Scheme and what does it pay?

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) is a government programme run by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that places young people in companies. Its terms have changed since launch, so read the official portal before you apply.

A PIB note on the October 2024 launch described a 12-month internship for ages 21 to 24. It listed Rs 4,500 a month from the government by direct benefit transfer plus Rs 500 from the partner company, a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 and insurance cover under two government schemes.

A PIB release dated 22 April 2026 gives newer terms. It says eligible youth aged 18 to 25 can apply, that final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students are now eligible with a No Objection Certificate from their institution, and that interns receive minimum financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per month. The release says applications go through the official PMIS portal at pminternship.mca.gov.in.

The 2024 note also listed exclusions, including a family income limit, so eligibility rules deserve a careful read on the portal.

Should you take a paid or unpaid internship?

Take the paid one when the work and learning are comparable, and consider an unpaid one only when the benefits are clear and the terms are written down. Naukri Campus lists these decision factors: financial need, career goals, time availability, industry norms, and whether the role emphasises skill development or meaningful project contribution.

The table turns them into a checklist. It is our own framework, not a sourced rule.

Naukri Campus warns of a risk of exploitation through excessive work in unpaid internships. If the hours look like a full-time job, it is a reason to ask for pay.

How do you find paid internships and confirm the stipend?

Look for the stipend on the listing, and confirm it in writing before you start. These steps are our suggestions.

1. Filter for stipend on internship platforms. Many platforms let you sort by paid roles, so use that first.
2. Shortlist listings with a stated amount. A vague "performance-based" line is a reason to ask.
3. Ask the five stipend questions. Amount, payment date, deductions, duration and who pays.
4. Get an offer letter. It should state role, dates, hours and stipend.
5. Never pay to be hired. Registration fees and deposits are warning signs.
6. Keep records. Save messages, the offer letter and proof of payment.

Our guide on how to find an internship in India covers verification checks, and how to verify a company before applying goes deeper.

What does comparing offers look like? (Illustration)

This is an invented example, not a real case. Sneha has three offers for a three-month summer internship.

Offer A pays Rs 10,000 a month, but it is in another city where she would pay Rs 7,000 a month for rent and food. Offer B is unpaid and remote, with a named mentor and a project she can publish. Offer C is at a small startup, pays Rs 8,000 a month and has no offer letter.

Offer A leaves about Rs 3,000 a month after those costs, so a Rs 10,000 headline is not the same as Rs 10,000 of benefit. Offer B costs her nothing extra but may not suit her if she needs income. Offer C should wait until terms are written, since a promise with no paper is hard to enforce.

What do most guides on paid internships get wrong?

Most guides push stipend numbers and say little about the terms around them. These are the gaps.

• They quote ranges as facts. The one range table we could open shows no date or method, so it is useful for orientation only.
• They treat "paid" as one thing. A stipend can be a monthly amount, a per-task payment or a promise, so ask what is written down.
• They skip the legal question. The pages we opened show encouragement to pay, not a universal rule, and they do not settle every situation.
• They forget government options. The PM Internship Scheme has published payment terms, though they have changed and must be checked on the portal.
• They ignore net value. Rent, travel and time count against a stipend, as Sneha's example shows.

Remote roles need the same care, as our guide to remote internships in India explains.

FAQ

What are paid internships?

Paid internships are work placements where interns receive financial compensation, such as a monthly stipend or hourly wage, for their time and effort. Naukri Campus draws this line between paid and unpaid internships. Always confirm the amount, payment date and duration in writing before you start.

Are all internships in India paid?

No. Naukri Campus describes unpaid internships as ones where interns receive no money, and the UGC guidelines say companies need to be encouraged to offer paid internships. That wording suggests many are not paid, so check each listing and ask about the stipend early.

Is an unpaid internship legal in India?

We could not find, in the official pages we opened, a rule setting a minimum stipend for every internship. Naukri Campus says the legal standing of unpaid internships in India is unclear. This is not legal advice, so ask your college or a lawyer if you are unsure.

How much do paid internships pay in India?

It varies by sector and employer. Naukri Campus's paid versus unpaid guide gives monthly ranges by sector, from Rs 3,000 to 10,000 in non-profit work up to Rs 10,000 to 40,000 in IT. The page shows no date or method, so treat the numbers as rough.

Does the PM Internship Scheme pay a stipend?

Yes. A 22 April 2026 PIB release from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs says interns receive minimum financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per month. The 2024 pilot had a different structure, so check the official portal for current amounts and eligibility before you apply.

How do I make sure a paid internship really pays?

Get the stipend amount, payment date, deductions, duration and role in an offer letter before you start, and keep all messages. Never pay a fee to get an internship. Our guide on finding an internship lists questions to ask and checks to run.

Final thoughts

Paid internships are worth looking for, and a stipend is easier to secure when you ask early and get it in writing. Compare offers on net value, not just the headline figure, and check PMIS terms on the official portal.

Browse current openings on the Asuraa jobs page, and read our guide on how to find an internship in India for a weekly search routine.