NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday appealed to India Inc to come forward and participate in Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) while launching a dedicated mobile application for candidates to access this scheme. She added the app will make the scheme more accessible for youths.
Speaking to industry leaders and mediapersons, she said there is a need to give more confidence to youth while emphasising that there is no compulsion on industry and no interference. “You (industry) need to open the window… for people to have a peek,” she said. The minister added that the scheme is for a national cause and Indian industry should participate in the larger interest.
Sitharaman said the scheme helps youth, especially in tier-II and -III cities for better understanding of the job market, and the industry can contribute to the country and the economy by participating in the scheme. The minister also said that she has appealed to MPs to encourage youth to join the scheme.
The FM also mentioned that there is a shortage of people in terms of industry expectations and requirements and the scheme is aimed at bridging that gap. According to Sitharaman, the scheme’s website and app are being made more accessible with the app now available in various languages.
The scheme, announced in the 2024-25 Budget, aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in the top 500 companies in five years. Interns are provided monthly financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for 12 months and a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 under the scheme.
Corporate affairs ministry secretary Deepti Gaur Mukherjee told reporters that about 1.15 lakh applicants had registered for the scheme and 2.4 lakh applications had been received.
