Finance Minister Meets Prime Minister Internship Scheme Interns

1. Summary of the Event

• The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, recently held an interactive session with over 60 interns of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) in Hampi, Karnataka. The meeting highlighted the scheme's significant role in empowering youth by providing them with crucial industry exposure and enhancing their employability.

2. Overview of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS)

• Target Cohort:  The scheme is designed for Indian youth aged 21 to 24 who are not in full-time education or employment.

• Objective:  To bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, thereby creating a future-ready workforce.

• Scale:  The ambitious initiative aims to provide over  one crore (10 million) paid internships  across leading Indian companies within a five-year framework.

3. Key Highlights from the Interaction

• Diverse Participation:  The interns represented a wide range of backgrounds and were placed in top-tier companies including Infosys, TCS, IBM, and Honeywell.

• Success Stories:  Several interns shared that their performance during the internship period had already led to pre-placement offers (PPOs) for full-time roles.

• Minister's Encouragement:  Smt. Sitharaman commended the interns for their dedication and adaptability, emphasizing the importance of these attributes in the evolving modern workplace.

4. Impact on Youth and Skill Development

The scheme has demonstrated transformative outcomes for participants:

• Professional Growth:  Interns acquire core job skills, technical knowledge, and improved communication abilities.

• Personal Triumphs:  Success stories include:

  • Kaluva Hari Krishna (Andhra Pradesh):  Secured a full-time position at TCS.

  • R. Lakshmi Prasanna:  Gained confidence and valuable corporate exposure at Infosys.

  • Gouri H (Kerala):  Overcame personal challenges to build a career in embedded engineering at Honeywell.

5. Government Vision and Corporate Collaboration

• National Vision:  The PMIS is a cornerstone of the  Viksit Bharat 2047  vision, forming part of a comprehensive package of five schemes focused on youth employment and skilling.

• Industry Partnership:  Active collaboration with leading corporates ensures mentorship, practical work experience, and a direct pipeline for talent acquisition, benefiting both the interns and the companies.