The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS), a bold initiative launched to empower India’s youth and bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements, has sparked debate due to its exclusion of postgraduate (PG) degree holders. While the scheme aims to provide one crore internships across top 500 companies over five years, the exclusion of PG students, who possess specialized expertise and research capabilities, raises concerns about the scheme’s potential to fully harness India’s intellectual capital.
The PMIS, with its 80,000 internship opportunities spread across 737 districts and 24 sectors, offers a monthly stipend of ₹4,500 to selected interns. However, the exclusion of PG students, despite their increasing numbers – over 46 lakh students pursued PG courses in 2021-22 – has drawn criticism. This decision potentially stifles the scheme’s impact on India’s critical sectors like oil, gas, energy, automotive technology, electronics, banking, finance, and tourism.
The exclusion of PG students, who are relatively more mature and receptive to new ideas than their undergraduate counterparts, is a missed opportunity. It deprives them of valuable work experience and relegates them to obscurity, leading to career stagnation. Their advanced knowledge, particularly in fields like science, engineering, technology, management, and commerce, could significantly contribute to India’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The PMIS, while well-intentioned, risks exacerbating India’s existing challenges in attracting and retaining talent. With a growing number of students pursuing doctoral programmes after their PG studies, excluding PG students from the PMIS sends a discouraging message. It could also hinder the development of a robust research ecosystem, as PG students could play a crucial role in mentoring undergraduate interns and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing.
The government’s objective of creating lakhs of jobs in sectors such as precision manufacturing, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and pharmaceuticals could be significantly enhanced by including PG degree holders in the PMIS. Their diverse skills and experience would benefit both the interns and the organisations they engage with, facilitating seamless career mobility and contributing to a more robust labour force. The PMIS, currently being implemented as a pilot project with a budget of ₹800 crore, has the potential to be a transformative scheme for India’s youth. However, it needs to be more inclusive and accessible to maximize its impact. Including PG degree holders in the scheme would not only address the concerns regarding the exclusion of a significant pool of talent but also align with the goals of other flagship initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in promoting research and innovation in the country. By leveraging the intellectual prowess of its postgraduate graduates, India can accelerate its journey towards becoming a global leader in knowledge and innovation.