PM Internship Scheme 2026: Eligibility, Stipend and How to Apply

Last updated: 13 October 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

Quick answer: The PM Internship Scheme is a Ministry of Corporate Affairs programme that places young Indians in company internships with a government-funded stipend. As of PIB's April and May 2026 releases, it is open to people aged 18 to 25, including final-year UG and PG students with an institution NOC, and pays Rs 9,000 a month (subject to attendance) plus a one-time Rs 6,000 grant. You apply only online at pminternship.mca.gov.in.

Key takeaways

• The PM Internship Scheme was launched on 3 October 2024 as a pilot run by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, with applications through pminternship.mca.gov.in.
• A PIB release of 22 April 2026 extended eligibility to final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students who submit an NOC signed by their HoD, Dean, Principal or TPO, and stated an age band of 18 to 25.
• PIB's May 2026 releases put the stipend at Rs 9,000 a month, subject to attendance, plus a one-time joining grant of Rs 6,000.
• Under the pilot design, the portal shortlisted about two to three times the required candidates per internship and the company made the final selection; applicants could apply to up to five internships.
• The original 2024 pilot paid Rs 5,000 a month for 12 months to 21-to-24-year-olds not in full-time education, so guides quoting those figures are describing the older terms.

What is the PM Internship Scheme?

The PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) is a Government of India programme, run by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, that places young people in paid internships with companies and pays most of the monthly stipend through Direct Benefit Transfer. It was launched on 3 October 2024 as a pilot, and applications go through the official portal at pminternship.mca.gov.in (PIB backgrounder, October 2024).

The scheme is different from a normal private internship in three ways: the government funds a large part of the stipend, the portal (not a recruiter) shortlists candidates, and interns are covered by government insurance schemes. That makes it worth a serious look if you are a diploma holder, an ITI pass-out or a non-IIT graduate who is struggling to get a first paid role.

Who is eligible for the PM Internship Scheme in 2026?

As of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' April 2026 announcement, the age band is 18 to 25 years, and final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students can now apply, provided they meet the scheme's other conditions and submit a No Objection Certificate from their institution (PIB, 22 April 2026). The NOC must be signed by a Head of Department, Dean, Principal or Training and Placement Officer, and it confirms the internship will not clash with your course requirements.

The rules have changed since the pilot began, so it helps to see both versions side by side.

Sources: the October 2024 backgrounder, the April 2026 release, the May 2026 Karnataka release and the May 2026 Bastar release.

The 2024 backgrounder also listed exclusions. Graduates of IITs, IIMs, IISERs, IIITs, NIDs and National Law Universities were excluded, as were holders of CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, MBA or any master's degree. People already in a government skilling, apprenticeship or internship scheme, people who had completed NATS or NAPS apprenticeships, candidates whose family income was above Rs 8 lakh in FY 2023-24, and family members of permanent government employees were also excluded (PIB). The April 2026 release says applicants must still meet the scheme's existing criteria, but it does not restate the full list, so read the current eligibility page on the portal before you apply rather than relying on a 2024 summary.

How much stipend does the PM Internship Scheme pay?

The 2026 PIB releases put the stipend at Rs 9,000 a month, linked to attendance, plus a one-time Rs 6,000 grant when you join (PIB, 21 May 2026). The April 2026 release describes Rs 9,000 as the minimum monthly stipend (PIB).

Under the original pilot design, the government's share was paid by DBT into an Aadhaar-linked bank account, and the company's share depended on attendance and conduct (PIB). The 2026 releases do not state how the Rs 9,000 is split, so the practical advice is simple: keep an Aadhaar-seeded bank account active, and do not skip days without informing the company, because attendance affects what you receive.

The pilot also covered interns under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the government paying the premiums (PIB).

How do you apply for the PM Internship Scheme step by step?

You apply online through pminternship.mca.gov.in; there is no offline application through agents. The PIB releases also mention registration camps and the MY Bharat portal (mybharat.gov.in) as routes to register (PIB).

1. Open the official portal at pminternship.mca.gov.in. Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link from WhatsApp or Telegram.
2. Register with your mobile number and basic details. Keep your Aadhaar handy, because stipend payments go by DBT to an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
3. Complete your profile. The portal builds a resume from the information you enter, so fill in education, skills and languages carefully (PIB).
4. If you are a final-year student, get your NOC signed by your HoD, Dean, Principal or TPO before you apply (PIB).
5. Browse internships using the filters for location, sector, functional role and qualification, and shortlist the ones you could actually travel to and complete.
6. Apply. Under the pilot rules you could apply to up to five internships, so spend your choices carefully.
7. Wait for shortlisting. The portal matches preferences against company needs and sends roughly two to three times the required number of candidates to each company; the company then makes the final selection (PIB).
8. Accept the offer on the portal within the time shown, then join on the stated date so your joining grant and stipend start.

Which companies offer PM Internship Scheme internships?

Companies post openings directly on the portal, and more than 300 companies took part in the pilot phase, according to the April 2026 PIB release. One concrete 2026 example is NMDC, a Navratna PSU, which offered 142 nine-month internships at its Kirandul and Bacheli complexes in Chhattisgarh through a registration camp in Bastar (PIB, 23 May 2026).

Listings change round by round, so the portal is the only reliable list. If you also want private-sector internships in parallel, compare portals using our guide to the best job portals for freshers in India and browse open roles on Asuraa Jobs.

Is a PM Internship Scheme round open right now?

According to the April 2026 release, the third round of the pilot was underway, with companies posting opportunities on a rolling basis and no closing date stated (PIB). Because rounds open and close, check the portal's home page for the current status before you plan around it.

What mistakes should you avoid when applying?

Most rejections and lost stipends come from avoidable errors in the profile, the choice of internships or the joining stage.

If anyone asks you to pay for a PMIS seat, read our guide to registration fee job scams and report it.

What do most guides on the PM Internship Scheme get wrong?

Most guides still quote the October 2024 pilot terms: Rs 5,000 a month, ages 21 to 24, and no full-time students. Those were accurate for the first rounds, but the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has since announced an 18 to 25 age band, a minimum stipend of Rs 9,000 and eligibility for final-year UG and PG students with an NOC (PIB). If a page you are reading still says Rs 5,000, check its date.

The second error is treating the 2024 exclusion list as either fully current or fully scrapped. The 2026 release says existing criteria still apply, so the safe move is to read the eligibility section on the portal at the time you apply.

What should you do after applying?

After you apply, your job is to stay reachable, keep your documents ready and keep building other options while you wait.

1. Check the portal, email and SMS every day; offers have to be accepted within a set window.
2. Keep your NOC (if a student), Aadhaar, bank details and marksheets ready in one folder.
3. Keep applying elsewhere. Our hub on fresher jobs and internships in India lists other routes, and paid internships in India covers private options.
4. Once you join, treat it like a first job: attendance, a work log and a clear final project make the certificate and reference useful later. Our guide to internship certificate and report format explains what to collect.

Related guides

• Fresher Jobs and Internships in India: How to Get Hired (2026)
• How to Convert an Internship Into a PPO: What Managers Look For
• Internship Certificate and Report Format: What Colleges Expect
• Unpaid Internships in India: Rules, When to Accept, When to Walk Away

FAQ

What is the age limit for the PM Internship Scheme in 2026?

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs' April 2026 release gives an age band of 18 to 25 years. The original 2024 pilot was limited to 21 to 24, so older guides may show the narrower range. Confirm the exact cut-off date used to calculate age on pminternship.mca.gov.in when you register, because it is tied to each round.

Can college students apply for the PM Internship Scheme?

Final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply as of April 2026, according to PIB. They must meet the scheme's other eligibility conditions and submit a No Objection Certificate from their institution, signed by the Head of Department, Dean, Principal or Training and Placement Officer, confirming the internship will not interfere with their studies.

How much is the PM Internship Scheme stipend?

PIB releases from May 2026 state a stipend of Rs 9,000 per month, subject to attendance, plus a one-time joining grant of Rs 6,000. The April 2026 release calls Rs 9,000 the minimum monthly stipend. Under the 2024 pilot, the stipend was Rs 5,000, mostly paid by the government through DBT.

Is there any fee to apply for the PM Internship Scheme?

The official process is an online registration on pminternship.mca.gov.in, and PIB releases describe government-run registration camps, not paid agents. Treat any request for a registration, training or security fee as a scam signal, do not pay it, and register only on the official portal or at a government camp.

How are candidates selected for the PM Internship Scheme?

Under the pilot rules described by PIB, the portal matched candidates' preferences with company requirements and sent about two to three times the number of required candidates to each company. The company then chose interns using its own criteria, and selected candidates accepted the offer through the portal.

How long is a PM Internship Scheme internship?

The 2024 pilot internships ran for 12 months. Duration now varies by listing; for example, PIB reported a nine-month internship at NMDC in May 2026. Check the duration shown on each listing before applying, because you are expected to complete the full period you accept.

Final thoughts

The PM Internship Scheme is one of the few routes where the government funds most of a first internship stipend, and its 2026 changes open it to many final-year students. Apply only on the official portal, keep your NOC and bank details ready, and keep building other options alongside it on Asuraa Jobs.