New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Internship Training Program is set to formally commence on December 2, according to an announcement by the central government.

Introduced in October last year, the initiative aims to enhance youth employability by facilitating direct apprenticeships in leading companies across the country.

The government has outlined an ambitious target to provide practical job training to nearly 1 crore young people over the next five years, in collaboration with 500 top corporations.

To support this program, the government allocated ₹2,000 crore in the last budget for scholarships to youth aged 21-24. Trainees will receive a monthly stipend of ₹4,500 from the government, while participating companies will contribute ₹5,000.

Additionally, companies are permitted to utilize their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to support the program.

Thus far, 6.21 lakh youth have registered their interest through the government portal, while 1.27 lakh individuals have been formally enlisted for training by corporate entities.

Central government officials have confirmed that the program will formally take off on December 2, marking a significant milestone in its mission to bridge the skills gap and empower the nation's youth.