Prospective interns gained detailed insights of the internships offered, assessed their alignment with career goals, and determined their eligibility for potential roles

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) Mela was organized by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the CII Suresh Neotia Centre of Excellence for Leadership, Salt Lake City, Kolkata. Youth from various districts of East India and prominent companies offering internships under PMIS participated in the mela. The mela was organized with the objective of enlightening the youth about the plethora of internship opportunities available on the PM internship portal, while also serving as a platform for meaningful engagement between industry representatives and aspiring interns.

Glimpses from PMIS Mela, Kolkata

Various industries had set up kiosks at the mela to engage directly with youth. This setup allowed prospective interns to gain detailed insights into the internships offered, assess their alignment with their career goals, and determine eligibility for potential roles.

Dedicated stations were also set up where the youth could come and register, complete their profiles, and apply for internships on the official PM internship portal. Assistance was readily available at every stage of the process to ensure a smooth and supportive experience for all attendees.

Multiple round table interactions were also organized where the current PMIS interns engaged in fruitful interactions with officials from Ministry of Corporate Affairs, shared their experiences, key learnings, and challenges encountered so far.

PMIS interns interacting at the round table at PMIS Mela, Kolkata

Five PMIS interns, who had joined internships in Round 1 of the scheme from various sectors were also felicitated at the event for their exceptional performance in their internships so far.

PMIS, which was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 aims to provides 12-month paid internships in India’s top companies for youth aged 21 to 24 who are not currently in full-time education or employment. The scheme aims to offer over one crore internships in the next five years.

Currently Round 2 of the pilot phase of the scheme is underway with more than 1 lakh internship opportunities from more than 300 top companies across 740 districts of India. Of the total opportunities, East India has more than 12,500 internship opportunities, with more than 4000 opportunities in West Bengal, making it a major hub for youth seeking opportunities to enhance their skills and employability.

The PMIS Mela successfully attracted over 900 youth from various districts of East India, with more than 400 eligible candidates completing their registration after receiving personalized counselling and guidance from industry representatives.

Prime Minister Internship Scheme expands paid internship access for eligible youth through industry partnerships and local registration drives. The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) provides paid internships to eligible youth not in full time education or employment, leveraging industry partnerships and a centralized portal to facilitate district level outreach, on site registration, counselling, and application. The pilot phase aggregates placements from private employers, conducts engagement events and round table interactions to align internships with career goals, share intern experiences, and recognize high performers while scaling access across regions.