PM Internship Scheme's Abysmal Track Record: Uses Only 8.8% Of 840 Cr Pilot FundThe PM Internship Sc

The PM Internship Scheme used just a very small part of its pilot budget and could not push students to take the majority of offered internships. Only 8.8 percent of the approved funds got spent and only 20 percent of the total internship offers were accepted. This shows clear gaps between planning and ground reality, and the latest data shared in Parliament made the questions even louder.

The day’s discussion created heavy curiosity because the numbers look mismatched with the large goals placed on the scheme. Many people expected strong progress after its launch, but the actual uptake stayed weak through most of the year. The government increased the budget sharply for the next financial year, and that raised more doubts on why money jumped when execution stayed thin.

A Sudden Gap Between Ambition And Real Outcome

The scheme promised one crore internships across five years in India’s top companies. It sounded strong and large, close to a national movement for building job-ready youth. But the real numbers that came out now show the gap forming early. Only around Rs 73.72 crore got used out of the Rs 840 crore pilot fund. This is not even one-tenth of what was cleared for spending.

The internship offers made so far also stayed low in acceptance. Out of 1.65 lakh offers, close to 20 percent were taken up. The rest stayed untouched for many reasons that students say include long duration, unclear role expectations and very few support systems. Women participation also remained below one-third, which created more questions on access and inclusion.

How The Fund Shrunk While Execution Slowed

During the same year, the finance approvals kept shifting. The original pilot fund of Rs 840 crore sat within a bigger Rs 2000 crore plan. But the Revised Estimate for the year fell to Rs 380 crore. This drop shows that even the government side expected lower utilisation as the months passed. What makes things confusing is how the next year’s proposal jumps to more than Rs 10,800 crore. This amount is almost thirteen times bigger even when the pilot struggled heavily.

People following the scheme say the fall in spending may not only be because of low participation but also because companies did not absorb positions the way they promised in early meetings. The scheme depends on big corporates opening structured slots, and many could not prepare processes fast enough before the year closed.

Why Internship Acceptance Stayed Low

Students say the 12-month duration feels long and does not match academic schedules. Many students also worried that the internship does not promise any job at the end. No placement tracking exists at the central level, and the scheme is not designed to guarantee employment. This created doubt among applicants who expect internships to act like stepping stones.

Some students also mentioned that they could not relocate easily because the stipend offered through companies varied widely and support from institutions stayed minimal. The scheme aimed at real workplace experience, but without clear placement paths or campus links, acceptance never picked up speed.

Women Participation Remains A Sharp Concern

Only 31.86 percent of internships taken so far went to women. This shows a deep gender imbalance that many experts expected the scheme to address early. Women students face more relocation limits and safety concerns around unfamiliar workplaces. Without strong support, the gap turned wide and reduced overall numbers too.

Where The Questions Turn Sharper Now

The massive new budget of Rs 10,831 crore for 2025-26 made many ask why such a huge expansion is planned when 90 percent of the pilot funds remained idle. The scheme has promise and strong ideas, but the actual rollout looks uneven. Many MPs now want a clearer explanation of how this new money will be used and how the process will be reset.

Some experts think the government wants to scale early and fix issues while expanding. Others feel that scaling without fixing the base problems might create more unused funds and more confusion. The Parliament data release means this conversation will now grow stronger.

What The Scheme Still Can Achieve

Even with the low uptake, the scheme sits on a powerful idea. Corporate internships help students learn real world skill and improve job confidence. If companies, colleges and ministries work in sync, acceptance could grow sharply. Shorter durations, stronger local placements and assured role clarity may help the next year. The budget increase could support more systems such as mentoring, tracking, and regional support teams.

But execution must grow faster than plans, or the new money may sit unused again. Students want internships that feel meaningful and manageable. Companies want clarity and quicker coordination. Colleges want proper scheduling. If these parts align, participation can rise much quicker than the pilot year.

The Road Ahead For PM Internship Scheme

The next phase of the scheme should focus on smooth processes and real-time monitoring. The government now faces pressure to prove that the new large allocation will not repeat the low utilisation pattern. If planning stays open to changes, the scheme can transform into a strong national workforce bridge. But if the issues remain as they are, the gap between stated goals and actual numbers may widen even more.