Context:
The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) enters its second pilot stage, expanding to reach as many youths in India as possible with industry exposure and experience from the real world. More than 115,000 internships are being rolled out under the PMIS in the first year within 25 sectors by leading industry partners like Reliance, HDFC Bank, Indian Oil, and Maruti Suzuki.
Key Highlights:
- Massive Budget Boost
- A government fund allocation of ₹10,831 crore for the scheme in FY 2025-26 is an indicator of its commitment towards workforce development.
- Internships by State
- Tamil Nadu: 14,585
- Maharashtra: 13,664
- Gujarat: 11,690
- Karnataka: 10,022
- Uttar Pradesh: 9,027
- Income Support
- Joining bonuses of ₹6,000 through direct benefit transfer.
- Monthly stipend of ₹5,000 (₹4,500 from government, ₹500 from company’s CSR funds)
- Insurance provided by PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima & PM Suraksha Yojana.
Who Is Out? Who Is In?
- For example, the scheme, which provides short term training experience, excludes IIT/IIM graduates, Chartered Accountants, Management Accountants.
- Specifically, family income is below ₹8 lakh a year, and there are no government employed family members, so the individuals are eligible to apply.
ONGC’s Strategy: Preparing Interns to Work in the Energy Sector
- India’s largest oil and gas company, ONGC, has recently offered 6,000 internships under PMIS, but the company does not have enough applicants to fill those openings. The ONGC views this whole PMIS activity as a pipeline for skilled manpower especially for off shore rigs and drilling platforms.
- Interns are expected to be certified and placed as Operations and Maintenance (O&M) personnel to ensure better safety and efficiency of oil fields.
- To improve the quality of the workforce, ONGC will take over from contractors that provide many inadequately trained personnel.
Innovating Energy Green: Renewables from ONGC
- Complementing its efforts to improve the workforce, ONGC has pioneered the green energy agenda with large investments toward the green hydrogen, biogas, and renewables:
Green Hydrogen
- Successfully completed Pilot Project in Mehsana, Gujarat.
- Plans to produce 40-50 kg of hydrogen per day in Bengaluru.
- Upcoming projects for green hydrogen plants in Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka.
Expansion of Biogas and Renewables
- 15 CBG plants for compressed biogas are still in the initial stages and are part of a government mandate requiring a total of 25.
- By FY 2025-26, the ONGC NTPC Green joint venture will initiate solar and wind energy projects together.
- A much larger project of 1 gigawatt solar & wind power, along with battery storage for 24/7 energy supply, is in the works.
Way Forward
- Peak Hour Power Supply
- ONGC will take advantage of peak hour energy demand to guarantee higher revenues and ensure national energy security.
- Strategic Renewable Acquisitions
- The company is currently scouting for green energy assets through both organic and inorganic development approaches.
- Startups and Innovations
- ONGC finances entrepreneurial startups within the energy sector through breaking disruptive solutions efforts for long term sustainment of these efforts.
As PMIS empowers youth and ONGC transforms the energy sector, the nation will build a stronger workforce while making bold moves in the renewables space. This dual strategy also meets with India’s long term economic and energy sustainability goals, leading to a ready future workforce and a greener energy map.
