Special Correspondent
New Delhi: In a major push to enhance youth employability, over 14,488 young individuals from Maharashtra have been selected under the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, making it one of the top-performing states in the country. This central government initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide industry exposure to one crore young Indians by facilitating internships with 500 of India’s top corporate companies.
The scheme’s first phase has already exceeded its initial target of 1.25 lakh internships for the year 2024–25. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, a total of 1,27,508 students across India have been placed in internships across various sectors. Out of these, Maharashtra ranks second nationally, right after Tamil Nadu, which leads the chart with 14,585 selections. Gujarat (11,690), Karnataka (10,022), and Uttar Pradesh (9,027) follow Maharashtra in the national rankings.
What stands out for Maharashtra is the significant participation from its key educational cities. Mumbai leads the state with 4,257 interns, followed closely by Pune with 4,194. Districts like Raigad (858), Nagpur (661), Nashik (661), and even smaller cities like Ahilyanagar (353) and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (310) have shown strong participation, proving that the reach of the scheme has extended far beyond just metro areas.
The internship program has attracted enormous interest nationwide. Over 6.21 lakh applications were submitted, and Maharashtra alone saw participation from students across 37 districts. The internships are designed to offer hands-on work experience in diverse sectors including IT, finance, marketing, logistics, human resources, law, and data analytics, depending on the applicant’s qualification and interest.
For cities like Mumbai and Pune, where professional education and corporate presence are well established, the uptake was expected. However, the enthusiastic participation from Tier-II and Tier-III regions such as Kolhapur, Thane, and Jalgaon reflects a deeper shift — one where even smaller towns are becoming serious contenders in India’s talent pipeline.
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme is part of a larger national effort to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations. It is aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes skill-building, career-readiness, and practical exposure for students and young professionals.
Many interns selected in this first phase have begun working in roles across private sector firms and start-ups. Early feedback from both interns and host companies has been positive, with interns highlighting how the program is helping them build confidence, understand workplace dynamics, and shape their long-term career goals.
With the first phase now complete, the next round of internships is expected to be announced soon, and students from across Maharashtra are being encouraged to stay informed, prepare early, and take advantage of what is arguably India’s largest internship mission.
The scheme has not only opened doors to employment for thousands but has also demonstrated that with proper outreach and support, youth from every corner of Maharashtra — from Mumbai to Ahilyanagar — can access meaningful industry opportunities.
