UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MCA expands eligibility criteria of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to include final-year graduate and post graduate students

Q1. Under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), paid internships are offered exclusively in which single category of firms?

  • A. The top 100 listed companies by market capitalisation
  • B. The top 500 companies identified on the basis of average CSR expenditure
  • C. All companies listed on the National Stock Exchange
  • D. The top 1,000 public sector undertakings by turnover

Q2. With reference to the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) and its pilot phase, consider the following statements: 1. PMIS was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 with an overall target of one crore internships over five years. 2. The pilot phase for FY 2024-25 was assigned a target of 1.25 lakh internships. 3. Unlike the pilot, the full-scale scheme is to be administered by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. PMIS was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 with an overall target of one crore internships over five years.
  2. The pilot phase for FY 2024-25 was assigned a target of 1.25 lakh internships.
  3. Unlike the pilot, the full-scale scheme is to be administered by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The April 2026 notification widening PMIS eligibility to final-year graduate and postgraduate students was issued by which ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • B. Ministry of Education
  • C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment

Q4. With reference to the April 2026 expansion of PMIS eligibility, consider the following: 1. Final-year undergraduate students became eligible to apply. 2. Final-year postgraduate students became eligible to apply. 3. Such applicants must furnish a No-Objection Certificate from their institution. 4. The expansion waived the requirement that applicants be Indian citizens. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Final-year undergraduate students became eligible to apply.
  2. Final-year postgraduate students became eligible to apply.
  3. Such applicants must furnish a No-Objection Certificate from their institution.
  4. The expansion waived the requirement that applicants be Indian citizens.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. The 'top 500 companies' eligible to host PMIS interns are shortlisted on the basis of CSR expenditure mandated under which provision of the Companies Act, 2013?

  • A. Section 8
  • B. Section 135
  • C. Section 149
  • D. Section 134

Q6. The official PMIS application portal, pminternship.mca.gov.in, is administered by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. National Skill Development Corporation
  • D. Ministry of Education

Q7. What is the duration of the internship offered to a candidate selected under PMIS?

  • A. 6 months
  • B. 12 months
  • C. 18 months
  • D. 24 months

Q8. The pilot phase of PMIS was formally launched in which year?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2023
  • C. 2024
  • D. 2025

Q9. With reference to the linkage between PMIS and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations, consider the following statements: 1. Partner companies are shortlisted using their average CSR expenditure of the preceding three financial years. 2. The company's ₹500 monthly contribution to the intern's stipend is met from its CSR funds. 3. Participating companies additionally bear the interns' training costs from their CSR spending. 4. The ₹4,500 government share of the stipend is also drawn from a pooled CSR corpus. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Partner companies are shortlisted using their average CSR expenditure of the preceding three financial years.
  2. The company's ₹500 monthly contribution to the intern's stipend is met from its CSR funds.
  3. Participating companies additionally bear the interns' training costs from their CSR spending.
  4. The ₹4,500 government share of the stipend is also drawn from a pooled CSR corpus.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q10. With reference to PMIS and its alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, consider the following statements: 1. The 2026 eligibility expansion was formalised in consultation with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. 2. NEP 2020 promotes experiential learning, including internships and industry exposure. 3. PMIS seeks to ease students' transition from education to the world of work. 4. PMIS is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to advance NEP 2020. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The 2026 eligibility expansion was formalised in consultation with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
  2. NEP 2020 promotes experiential learning, including internships and industry exposure.
  3. PMIS seeks to ease students' transition from education to the world of work.
  4. PMIS is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to advance NEP 2020.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q11. With reference to the eligibility criteria for applicants under PMIS, consider the following statements: 1. Graduates of IITs and IIMs are excluded from the scheme. 2. A candidate having a family member in a permanent/regular government job is excluded. 3. A candidate who has already completed a Master's degree or higher qualification is eligible to apply. 4. Candidates holding professional qualifications such as CA or CMA are excluded. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Graduates of IITs and IIMs are excluded from the scheme.
  2. A candidate having a family member in a permanent/regular government job is excluded.
  3. A candidate who has already completed a Master's degree or higher qualification is eligible to apply.
  4. Candidates holding professional qualifications such as CA or CMA are excluded.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q12. Of the ₹5,000 monthly stipend paid to a PMIS intern, what amount is contributed by the Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer?

  • A. ₹500
  • B. ₹4,500
  • C. ₹5,000
  • D. ₹6,000