PM Internship Scheme eases norms, adds new-age sectors and higher stipend

Exam-focused facts from the 26 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has relaxed CSR obligation requirement for companies to join the PM Internship Scheme.
New-age sectors like semiconductors, renewable energy and global capability centres are now eligible under the scheme.
The monthly stipend has been raised to ₹9,000 from ₹5,000.
Minimum age for candidates lowered to 18 years and maximum age raised to 25 years.
Postgraduates and MBAs are now eligible to apply.
Internship duration revised to 6 and 9 months instead of one year.
Third phase targets about 100,000 internships with over 15,500 offers across 19 sectors and 32 states.
Allocation for current fiscal sharply cut to ₹526 crore in revised estimate from ₹10,831 crore budgeted earlier.