Government Official Urges Companies to Focus on Youth Engagement Beyond Numbers in PM Internship Scheme A government official has called on top companies to prioritize meaningful engagement with young talent over mere numerical targets, emphasizing the importance of the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) in shaping India’s future workforce. Speaking at a session titled "PM Internship Scheme: Strengthening India's Talent Pipeline" during an industry body’s annual business summit, the official highlighted the need for corporations to move beyond a transactional approach to internships. "Please do not look at it from a point of view of just numbers, it is about the people behind those numbers," she stated, underscoring the scheme’s broader goal of fostering long-term career development rather than short-term metrics. The corporate affairs secretary reiterated that the PMIS requires a committed approach, stressing that industries must believe in their capacity to transform individual lives through mentorship and opportunities. This comes amid concerns about the scheme’s effectiveness, as the government has noted a significant number of candidates dropping out before completing their internships. In March, the ministry informed the Lok Sabha that 7,292 candidates failed to finish their internships during the first two rounds of the pilot phase, raising questions about the program’s ability to retain participants. The PMIS, launched as a flagship initiative to bridge the gap between academia and industry, has seen two rounds of implementation. The first phase began on October 3, 2024, with over 6.21 lakh applications received from more than 1.81 lakh candidates. Partner companies extended over 82,000 internship offers to more than 60,000 candidates, resulting in 8,760 interns joining the program.#government_official #india #lok_sabha #corporate_affairs_secretary #pm_internship_scheme
