Exclusive | FM Sitharaman Defends PM Internship Program, Addresses Concerns About Job Creation

In an exclusive interview with Anjana Om Kashyap and Sweta Singh from India Today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed multiple concerns raised by the opposition regarding the PM Internship Program and the allocation of jobs versus internships. Responding to criticisms about how companies would be compelled to take on 4,000 interns each, Sitharaman explained that this calculation overlooks the extensive presence and infrastructure of top 500 companies across various cities and locations. She emphasized that these companies have committed to providing opportunities and that the government will subsidize the internships by paying ₹5,000 per month. Sitharaman dismissed opposition claims that the program is a substitute for real job creation, highlighting that it includes three job schemes, skilling initiatives, and apprenticeships. She stressed that the program aims to make youth more employable by providing them with practical experience and certification from top companies, ultimately enhancing their job prospects. The Finance Minister also criticized the opposition for misleading the public and assured that the scheme is designed in collaboration with industry experts to be effectively implementable.