PM Internship Scheme: Rs 5000 Stipend, Eligibility and Apply

Are you between 21 and 24, not working full time, with a family income under ₹8 lakh a year? You could earn a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 plus a one-time grant of ₹6,000 by interning at one of India's top 500 companies under the PM Internship Scheme.

This is a Government of India scheme announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 and launched in October 2024. It aims to give real working experience to youth across many sectors by placing them in India's top 500 companies, selected on the basis of their CSR spending, over a five-year period. Read on for the full eligibility checklist, the step-by-step application process, and the common mistakes that get applications rejected.

Before you spend time on the form, run through this checklist. Both the “can apply” and “cannot apply” sides matter, because the cannot-apply rules are where most people get filtered out.

You CAN apply if you:

• Are an Indian citizen.
• Are aged 21 to 24 years at the time of application.
• Have passed at least Class 10 or matriculation. Higher qualifications such as ITI, diploma, or a graduate degree are also eligible.
• Are NOT in full-time employment.
• Are NOT in full-time education. Candidates studying through online or distance-learning modes are allowed.
• Have a total family income for FY 2023-24 of not more than ₹8 lakh per year.

You CANNOT apply if you:

• Have a family member who is a permanent or regular government employee, as per the scheme norms.
• Have a family income above ₹8 lakh a year.
• Graduated from an IIT, IIM, National Law University (NLU), IISER, or similar top institutes.
• Hold a high professional or postgraduate qualification such as CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, MBA, or any master's degree or higher.
• Are already getting a stipend or benefit under another government skilling, apprenticeship, or internship scheme.

If you clear every line on the “can apply” side and none of the “cannot apply” lines applies to you, move on to the application steps below.

The entire process is online and free. There is no fee to apply.

1. Open the official portal at pminternship.mca.gov.in.
2. Register using your mobile number and complete the OTP verification.
3. Build your profile. Enter your personal details, educational qualifications, and skills. Keep your Aadhaar and bank details ready.
4. The portal generates a resume from the details you fill in, so enter your information carefully.
5. Browse the internship opportunities posted by partner companies. You can filter by sector, location, and role.
6. Apply to the internships that match your interest and eligibility. Read the listing details before applying.
7. Submit your application and note your application reference for tracking.
8. Track your application status on the portal. If selected and you accept an offer, complete the onboarding steps the company shares.

The financial support is the headline of the scheme.

• Monthly stipend of ₹5,000. Of this, ₹4,500 is paid by the Government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to your Aadhaar-linked bank account, and ₹500 is paid by the host company from its CSR funds.
• One-time grant of ₹6,000 paid on joining the internship.
• Insurance cover under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the premiums borne by the Government.
• Real-world experience for 12 months, of which at least half must be spent in an actual working or practical environment rather than in a classroom.

Because the government share reaches you by DBT, your bank account must be linked to your Aadhaar. If it is not yet linked, sort that out before you join.

Keep these ready before you register so the form goes smoothly.

• Aadhaar card.
• A bank account that is linked to your Aadhaar (for the DBT stipend).
• Educational certificates, such as your Class 10 marksheet and any higher qualification.
• A recent passport-size photograph.
• Family income details for FY 2023-24.
• An active mobile number for OTP and notifications.

Most rejections are avoidable. Watch out for these.

• Age outside the 21 to 24 band at the time of application.
• Family income above ₹8 lakh, or income proof that does not match what was entered.
• A disqualifying degree, such as a master's, CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, MBA, or a degree from an IIT, IIM, NLU, or IISER.
• A family member in regular government service.
• Already drawing a stipend under another government internship or apprenticeship scheme.
• Bank account not linked to Aadhaar, which blocks the DBT stipend.
• Incomplete profile or wrong details that do not match your documents.

You get ₹5,000 per month. The Government pays ₹4,500 by DBT to your Aadhaar-linked bank account, and the host company pays ₹500 from its CSR funds. You also get a one-time grant of ₹6,000 when you join.

You must be aged 21 to 24 years at the time of application and be an Indian citizen.

Your total family income for FY 2023-24 must not be more than ₹8 lakh per year. If it is higher, you are not eligible.

You need at least a Class 10 or matriculation pass. Higher qualifications such as ITI, diploma, or a graduate degree are also eligible. However, holders of a master's degree or a professional qualification like CA, CMA, CS, MBBS, BDS, or MBA, and graduates of IITs, IIMs, NLUs, or IISERs, are not eligible.

The internship runs for 12 months. At least half of that time must be spent in an actual working or practical environment, not in a classroom.

No. Registration and application on pminternship.mca.gov.in are free of cost.

The scheme runs in application rounds. A pilot round started in October 2024 and a further round ran in early 2025. Check the official portal pminternship.mca.gov.in for the current round and the last date to apply.

The scheme is run by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India. It was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 and launched in October 2024.

If your stipend or onboarding is stuck with a public authority, you can ask for the status in writing. Prepare a clean request with the AI RTI Drafter, read your rights under the RTI Act 2005, and see The RTI Playbook for the full filing and appeal process.

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs, PM Internship Scheme.
• Official portal: pminternship.mca.gov.in.
• Union Budget 2024-25.

• Instant e-PAN download with Aadhaar
• Link PAN with Aadhaar online
• AI RTI Drafter
• RTI Act 2005
• The RTI Playbook