The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) 2026 has expanded significantly in its third pilot round, with 340 companies offering 1.22 lakh internship opportunities across 31 sectors as of July 15, 2026.
The latest round also brings major changes to the scheme. The monthly financial assistance has been increased to ₹9,000, the eligible age group has been expanded to 18 to 25 years, and the internship duration has been reduced from the earlier 12-month structure to 6-9 months. Final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students have also been brought within the eligibility framework.
PM Internship Scheme 2026: 1.22 Lakh Opportunities
According to government data reported in Parliament, 340 companies had offered 1.22 lakh internship opportunities across 31 sectors by July 15, 2026 under the third pilot round of PMIS.
The third pilot round began in April 2026 and is scheduled to continue until December 2026.
The scheme is designed to provide young people with practical exposure to real-world business environments and help bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements.
The government aims to eventually provide internship opportunities to one crore youth over five years through the broader Prime Minister Internship Scheme.
PM Internship Scheme Stipend Increased to ₹9,000
One of the biggest changes introduced in the revised PMIS structure is the increase in financial assistance.
Eligible interns can now receive ₹9,000 per month, subject to the applicable scheme conditions. The government had earlier provided a lower monthly amount under the original structure.
Interns are also eligible for a one-time ₹6,000 joining grant for incidental expenses.
The scheme additionally provides insurance coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
Age Limit Expanded to 18-25 Years
The eligibility criteria have also been widened.
The revised scheme allows eligible youth between 18 and 25 years of age to apply. This represents a significant expansion from the original 21-24 age bracket.
The government has said that the changes are intended to expand the reach of the scheme and enable a larger number of young people to gain practical industry exposure.
Final-Year UG and PG Students Can Apply
Another important change is the inclusion of final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced the change in April 2026 after consultation with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Final-year students must continue to satisfy the other eligibility requirements and are required to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their educational institution.
The NOC must confirm that participation in the internship will not interfere with the student’s academic requirements. It can be issued by an authorised institutional representative such as a Head of Department, Dean, Principal or Training and Placement Officer.
This change allows students to gain structured industry experience before completing their degrees.
Internship Duration Reduced to 6-9 Months
The revised PMIS structure has also changed the duration of internships.
Earlier versions of the scheme were structured around 12-month internships. Under the revised framework for the third pilot round, the internship duration has been reduced to 6-9 months.
The shorter duration may make the scheme more accessible to students and young people who cannot commit to a full year of workplace training.
Opportunities Across 31 Sectors
The 1.22 lakh internship opportunities available as of July 15 span 31 sectors.
The scheme provides opportunities across a broad range of industries, allowing eligible candidates to explore different career paths and gain practical workplace experience.
Government information on PMIS highlights opportunities across areas such as healthcare, manufacturing, banking and financial services, energy, automobiles and other sectors. More than 300 companies have participated in the pilot phase.
PM Internship Scheme Aims to Bridge Education and Industry
The core objective of PMIS is to reduce the gap between what students learn academically and the skills expected in professional workplaces.
The government describes the programme as a structured, paid internship initiative that gives young people exposure to business environments, professional processes and workplace expectations.
The scheme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places greater emphasis on experiential learning, internships and industry exposure.
Third Pilot Round Shows Stronger Participation
The third pilot round has also recorded an increase in actual participation.
According to government data, 10,195 candidates had physically joined internships under the third pilot round by July 2026. This was already higher than the number of physical joinings recorded during either of the first two pilot rounds.
The third round remains ongoing, meaning these numbers can change as additional candidates join internships.
How Students Can Apply for PM Internship Scheme 2026
Eligible candidates can explore available opportunities and apply through the official PM Internship Scheme portal.
The government has also been using the MY Bharat platform to increase awareness and connect eligible youth with PMIS. By July 16, 2026, 98,632 young people had been redirected from a PMIS volunteer opportunity on the MY Bharat platform to the PMIS portal for registration and application.
Students should check individual internship listings carefully because eligibility requirements can vary depending on the role and participating company.
What Students Should Check Before Applying
Candidates should verify the following before applying:
- Age and educational eligibility
- Whether their course or qualification matches the internship
- Whether they are required to submit an institutional NOC
- Internship duration
- Location and work requirements
- Company and role details
- Application deadlines
- Any role-specific eligibility conditions
Final-year students should obtain the required NOC from their institution before completing the application process.
PM Internship Scheme 2026: A Larger Opportunity for Students
The expansion of PMIS has significantly widened the pool of potential applicants.
With the age range now covering 18-25 years, final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students included, and 1.22 lakh opportunities offered by 340 companies in the third pilot round as of July 15, the scheme provides a substantially broader route to structured workplace exposure than its original pilot structure.
For students and young professionals, the key benefit is not simply the monthly financial assistance but the opportunity to gain practical experience, workplace skills and exposure to industry before entering the full-time job market.
