Notable Growth in Female Applications
Female Representation Rises in PM Internship Scheme Second Round: The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) recorded a significant rise in female participation, increasing from 31% in the first round to 41% in the second round of its pilot phase. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) attributes this growth to focused awareness drives and strategic scheme modifications.
Static GK fact: The PM Internship Scheme is implemented under the MCA to connect students and young professionals with corporate internship opportunities across India.
Driving Factors for the Surge
Two key changes helped boost women’s participation:
- Mass outreach programmes conducted with state governments and MCA’s regional offices.
- Simplified application process with improved access to internship details.
These measures increased awareness, reduced procedural hurdles, and made the scheme more inclusive.
Scale of Opportunities in Second Round
Launched in January 2025, the second round saw:
- 327 companies offering 118,000 internships (including unfilled positions from the first round).
- Opportunities covering 735 districts nationwide.
- 455,000 applications from 214,000 candidates.
Static GK fact: India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories, making district-level outreach crucial for nationwide schemes.
Key Scheme Enhancements
The MCA introduced new user-friendly features to make opportunities more transparent and accessible:
- Exact internship locations with geo-tagging.
- Company profiles visible on the portal.
- Information on additional company benefits beyond the government stipend.
These changes particularly benefited women by enabling location-based choices, reducing travel barriers, and enhancing safety perceptions.
Strengthening State and Regional Support
Efforts at the regional and state level included:
- Nodal officers in MCA regional offices to manage awareness drives.
- Coordination with state governments to appoint facilitating officers.
- Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to connect directly with students.
Static GK fact: IEC campaigns are a standard government communication strategy used in health, education, and employment schemes to maximise reach.
Impact on Female Representation
In the first round, female recruits made up 28%, closely reflecting their application share of 31%. The 41% application rate in the second round indicates a strong potential for higher female recruitment when final selections conclude. This jump highlights a growing trend of women actively seeking structured internship opportunities.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Female Representation Rises in PM Internship Scheme Second Round:
| Fact | Detail |
| Scheme Name | Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) |
| Implementing Ministry | Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| First Round Female Application Rate | 31% |
| Second Round Female Application Rate | 41% |
| First Round Female Recruitment Rate | 28% |
| Second Round Launch | January 2025 |
| Total Companies in Second Round | 327 |
| Total Internship Opportunities | 118,000 |
| Total Districts Covered | 735 |
| Total Applications Received | 455,000 |
