The government’s new internship scheme, which aims to provide youth with opportunities in top Indian firms, has garnered interest from 111 major companies, including Reliance Industries, TCS, HDFC Bank, ONGC, Infosys, and more. The initiative, announced in the Union Budget for FY25, is set to offer internships to 1.25 lakh youth in its first year, with a long-term goal of training 10 million over the next five years.
As per official sources, the scheme reserves 50% of its internships for candidates from SC, ST, and OBC communities, mirroring the reservation system in government jobs. It is designed to enhance employability by offering internships with India’s leading companies.
The participating companies have made 1,077 internship offers on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal, which will open for applications on October 12. The virtual training of company executives who will mentor the interns has also commenced, as the government officially rolled out the scheme on a pilot basis last week.
The program targets the top 500 companies based on their average Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending over the past three years. Companies’ voluntary participation is expected to give youth an edge by increasing their exposure to potential employers.
12-month training period from December 2nd
Internships will officially begin on December 2, with a 12-month training period. If the top 500 partner companies are unable to offer the required internships, they may collaborate with their suppliers or vendors to fulfill the target, while still overseeing the program’s implementation.
Eligibility criteria
Eligible candidates must have completed Grade 10 and be between 21-24 years of age. However, graduates from premier institutions like IITs and IIMs, as well as professionals with qualifications such as CA, CMA, MBBS, and MBA, will not be eligible. Candidates with family incomes exceeding ₹8 lakh or those with family members working as permanent government employees are also excluded from applying.
How to apply
The application process involves candidates registering on the MCA portal, where a shortlist of applicants will be automatically generated based on profiles and preferences. Participating companies will then review and select candidates from this list.
Financial support and benefits
The scheme also provides financial support to interns, who will receive ₹5,000 per month, with ₹4,500 coming from the government and ₹500 from the participating companies’ CSR funds. Interns will also receive a one-time grant of ₹6,000 for incidental expenses. The training costs will be borne by the companies through their CSR funds.
In addition, all interns will receive insurance coverage under government schemes like PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the government paying the premiums. The scheme aims to promote inclusivity, especially through its 50% reservation for SC/ST/OBC candidates, which has been praised by industry bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Companies will have a dedicated dashboard on the portal to post internship opportunities and manage applications. Eligible candidates can explore internships based on sectors, roles, and locations, and apply for up to five positions.
With a planned financial outlay of ₹800 crore for FY25, this scheme represents a significant investment in developing India’s future workforce.
