New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- The PM Internship Scheme is now starting to draw more takers after a slow start and a slew of changes. About 40,000 candidates have joined its third pilot round so far, two-and-a-half times the total turnout of the first two rounds, according to two people in the know. The development indicates a positive response to scheme changes, including higher stipends, relaxed age limits and more flexible internship durations.

The positive response has encouraged the corporate affairs ministry, which runs the scheme, to consider rolling out the full programme next year without any further pilot round, the people said.

Announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union budget for FY25, the PM Internship Scheme aims ...