GD Topic - PM Internship Scheme: How Effective is it in Enhancing Youth Employability?

Entrance exams for admission to the MBA programme have started taking place. Candidates who have taken or are about to take MBA entrance exams must prepare for the Group Discussion Round. Check out the article below for a discussion on the PM Internship Scheme and its effectiveness.

Group Discussion (GD) is one of the steps of the MBA admission process in India. Once the MBA entrance exams are over and results are announced, universities offering admission to MBA courses start dividing participants into groups for the GD/PI Round. A candidate’s performance in the Group Discussion round can make or destroy his/her chances of admission to B-schools.

During a Group Discussion, a topic is given to the group and the participants are given five minutes before the discussion starts. Candidates get around 20-25 minutes to discuss the topic and express their opinions. The judging panel tests the participants on their English, confidence, subject knowledge, leadership quality, communication skills, listening skills, and ability to present their thoughts. Candidates must possess these qualities for GD and their future in business management.

Management of Business Studies (MBA) is a two-year post-graduation degree pursued by students from all streams; including, Commerce, Science, and Arts/Humanities. To get admission in MBA course, students have to appear for MBA entrance exams. Some of the most popular exams include CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET.

Check Out: Best MBA Colleges in India

What is the PM Internship Scheme?

Due to rapid economic growth and technological advancement, many changes are taking place in India’s job market. To bridge the gap between the skills students learn and the job market’s needs, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India has taken the initiative and designed a scheme, the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme 2024. The scheme aims to provide 12-month internships to one crore young people over the next five years. The eligibility criteria for this scheme include 21-24 year olds who are neither employed nor pursuing a full-time course and have passed Class 10. The Government of India has partnered with over 500 top companies under this scheme. Companies like ICICI Banks, Reliance Industries, and Maruti Suzuki are participating in the scheme. The online portal of the PM Internship Scheme opened on October 3, 2024, for the participating companies, and candidates were allowed to access the portal and apply for internships from October 12. Over 1.5 lakh candidates registered within 24 hours of the portal's opening. The interns will receive a total of ₹5,000; ₹4,500 monthly stipend from the government and ₹500 per month from the company.

The Government of India launched the PM Internship Scheme's pilot project on December 2, 2024. With the project opening, the portal has received over 6 lakh registrations. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the 1^st cohort of interns from 625 districts have started their internship across 34 states/UTs in India.

Kinds of Internship Provided under the PM Internship Scheme

The participant will get the opportunity to get an internship in the following sectors:

• IT and Software Development
• Banking and Financial Services
• Oil, Gas & Energy
• Metals & Mining
• FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
• Telecom
• Infrastructure & Construction
• Retail & Consumer Durables
• Cement & Building Materials
• Automotive
• Pharmaceutical
• Aviation & Defence
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Chemical
• Media
• Entertainment & Education
• Agriculture and Allied
• Consulting Services
• Textile Manufacturing
• Gems and Jewellery
• Travel & Hospitality
• Healthcare 

PM Internship Scheme 2024: A Comprehensive Overview

Here's a brief overview of the PM Internship Scheme 2024:

PM Internship Scheme 2024: Highlights
Country	India
Scheme	PM Internship Scheme 2024
Organization	Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India
Purpose	To provide real-life work experience to job seekers in top companies
Who can Apply?	Who have passed 10th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, or Diploma courses Fresh graduates from non-premier institutions
Eligibility Criteria	– ITI: Matriculation + ITI in relevant trade – Diploma: Intermediate + AICTE-recognized diploma – Degree: Bachelor’s degree from UGC/AICTE-recognized university – Age: 18 to 24 years (relaxation for OBC/SC/ST)
Benefits	– ₹5,000 monthly stipend – One-time payment of ₹6,000 – Gain real-life work experience
Official Website	https://pminternship.mca.gov.in/
Insurance Coverage	Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
Application Fee	No fees
Partner Companies	Top 500 Companies

 Note: Students from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, and individuals with professional degrees like CA, MBA, MBBS, etc., are excluded to promote inclusivity for underrepresented groups.

Key Objective of the PM Internship Scheme

The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India has the following goals:

1. Bridging the gap between education and employment: The basic aim of the PM Internship Scheme is to close the gap between the learnings given to students and their employability.
2. Skill Development: The PM Internship Scheme aims to provide young Indians with practical skills and exposure to real-world work environments to enhance their employability in the job market.
3. Building Capacity: With the internship program, the Indian government aims to make the interns able to tackle challenges in governance and public administration.
4. Networking Opportunities: With these internships, young people can easily build valuable networks and connections within the organization.
5. Encouraging Youth Involvement: The PM Internship Scheme tries to get people to directly contribute to nation-building through government projects and internships
6. Reducing Regional Disputes: The PM Internship Program strives to provide equal opportunities across regions, including less industrialized and rural areas, and promote inclusive development.
7. Career Guidance: Lastly, the PM Internship Scheme provides career guidance and mentorship to young people. With internships, these people can identify their career paths and make better decisions for their future.

Challenges Faced under the PM Internship Scheme 2024

Despite the various benefits provided to the masses, the PM Internship Scheme faces several challenges. Let us have a look at some of the major challenges:

1. Regional Disparities: Less industrialized states like Bihar have fewer local industries and businesses, making it difficult for the government to offer adequate internship opportunities within or near the candidate’s district.
2. Relevance of Skill Development: While basic training is provided to the interns, the scheme must ensure they gain essential digital and soft skills. These skills may not be available in districts lacking advanced industry presence but are crucial in the modern work environment.
3. Scalability and Quality Assurance: Currently the program is in its initial phase. However, once it expands, ensuring consistent quality across all regions will become challenging. Additionally, the scheme will not have much impact if improper resource allocation and standardized guidelines exist.
4. High Dropout Rates and Poor Role Matching: If there is a misalignment between the candidate’s skills and the roles offered, the possibility of dropout rates and disengagement will increase.
5. Budget and Resource Constraint: If the budget and resources of the scheme become insufficient, it will become difficult to support training, mentoring, and operational requirements, and its effectiveness will be compromised.
6. Cultural and Social Barriers: Some regions may face less participation from people, especially among women and marginalized groups due to cultural norms and lack of public awareness.
7. Uncertain Long-term Impact: With the scheme in its initial stage, it is uncertain whether it will convert internships into sustainable employment opportunities, especially in regions with fewer job prospects.

Expected Changes in the PM Internship Scheme 2024

To overcome the challenges faced till now, the Government of India is planning to make some changes to its flagship internship scheme to make it more inclusive and effective. Following are the suggested changes in the PM Internship Scheme:

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs proposed to expand the scope of participating companies. Until now, over 500 top companies have partnered with the government. However, the MCA plans to partner with 1000 top companies, including banks and financial institutions. By adding more companies, the government plans to bring a broader pool of opportunities for interns.
• Another big change that can happen in this scheme is the eligibility criteria. The age limit for the scheme may be revised from 21-24 years to 18-26 years.
• There may be some relaxation in the educational eligibility of the scheme. At present, students pursuing degrees or those without a high school diploma are excluded from the scheme. However, with new changes, they might be included to attract a wider range of applicants.

With these changes, more people will be able to access the scheme and the government will also be able to fulfill its goal of building a skilled workforce and enhancing employability. The changes will be made only after the completion of the pilot project.

Conclusion

With the discussion in the above GD, we can conclude that the PM Internship Scheme is a promising initiative taken by the Government of India to address India’s employability challenges by bridging the gap between academic learning and job market requirements. However, the success of the scheme depends on overcoming the key challenges, including regional disparities, scalability issues, resource constraints, and skill relevance. If the government successfully incorporates the suggested changes like expanding the scope of participating companies, ensuring the inclusion of diverse skills, and revising eligibility criteria, only then the scheme can create a skilled and future-ready workforce.

Besides, better analysis can be done after the completion of the ongoing pilot project. Only after assessing the project’s impact and addressing the challenges, the Government of India can take necessary measures to enhance youth employability and contribute to India’s economic and social development.

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI 

Candidates preparing for the Group Discussion Rounds for admission in MBA at B-schools can check out the below GD topics:

• Importance of Statue of Unity 
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• All you need to know about Right To Information
• How can we control banking frauds to reduce NPAs? 
• Statue of Unity - Symbol of Pride or Wastage of Public Money? 
• Rural vs Urban India 
• Environment and us 
• Self Motivation 
• First impression is the last impression 
• Funding Democracy: Are Electoral Bonds a Boon or Bane?
• Quick Commerce: A Step Toward Progress or a Wasteful Luxury?
• Crime Against Women in India: Who Bears the Responsibility?
• Innovation Vs Invention: What does the world need?