PM Internship Scheme 2025, UK Universities in India, THE Rankings & Cyber Crime Internships

Oct 9, 2025

PM Internship 2025, UK Campuses India, THE Rankings & Cyber Internships

Published: Thursday, October 9, 2025

PM Internship Scheme 2025: Bridging Academia and Industry for 1.25 Lakh Youth

The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme 2025 represents a landmark initiative targeting young individuals aged 21-24 from low-income households, offering 12-month internships across India's top 500 companies. Launched by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, this government-backed program aims to bridge the critical gap between academic learning and practical work experience.

Comprehensive Financial Support and Scale

The scheme provides interns with a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 along with a one-time payment of ₹6,000, ensuring financial support while gaining valuable industry exposure. The pilot phase targets 1.25 lakh interns, with an ambitious five-year goal to extend opportunities to one crore youth across India.

Insurance coverage under the Jyoti Bima Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana provides additional security for participants. Importantly, the scheme operates without application fees, making it accessible to candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Diverse Industry Participation and Eligibility

The initiative encompasses 500 leading companies across 24 key sectors, including oil and gas, energy, travel and hospitality, automotive, banking, and financial services. Companies were selected based on their Corporate Social Responsibility spending over the past three years, ensuring placement with organisations committed to social and ethical responsibility.

Eligible candidates include those with ITI qualifications (Matriculation plus ITI in relevant trade), diplomas recognised by AICTE, and bachelor's degrees from UGC/AICTE-recognised universities. Age eligibility ranges from 18-24 years, targeting individuals seeking to enhance employability through structured internships.

Applications are submitted online through the official portal pminternship.mca.gov.in, with support available via email at pminternship@mca.gov.in or phone at 1800 11 6090. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs coordinates this comprehensive initiative aimed at preparing a skilled workforce through real-life work exposure.

Nine UK Universities Establish India Campuses Following Modi-Starmer Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that nine British universities are establishing campuses in India, marking a significant advancement in bilateral educational cooperation. The University of Southampton leads this initiative, having already launched its Gurugram campus and welcomed its first student cohort.

Strategic Campus Locations and Academic Programs

The confirmed UK university campuses include the University of Southampton in Gurugram (already operational), the University of Liverpool in Bangalore, the University of York in Mumbai, the University of Aberdeen in Mumbai, and the University of Bristol in Mumbai. The University of Bristol has received UGC approval for its Mumbai Enterprise Campus, expected to begin admissions in summer 2026.

The University of Surrey will establish its India campus in Gujarat's GIFT City in 2026-27, initially offering programs in artificial intelligence, finance, and cybersecurity. Newcastle University's satellite campus will be located at ISM Dhanbad, expanding access to British higher education across multiple Indian states.

Industry-Academia Collaboration Framework

These universities will foster joint research efforts between the UK and India while encouraging partnerships between academia and industry to drive innovation and enhance skill development. The initiative aligns with India's National Education Policy 2020 objectives of internationalisation and quality enhancement in higher education.

The establishment represents the largest and most influential education sector delegation accompanying a UK Prime Minister to India, demonstrating both countries' commitment to strengthening educational ties and creating pathways for Indian students to access world-class education within the country.

IISc Bangalore Leads India's Performance in THE World University Rankings 2026

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, has risen to the 201-250 rank band in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, maintaining its position as India's top-ranked university. India now boasts the second-highest number of universities ranked globally, trailing only the United States.

Impressive Institutional Representation Across Rank Bands

Chennai-based Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences improved to the 351-400 band from last year's 401-500 position. Jamia Millia Islamia and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences secured positions in the 401-500 category, while eight institutions, including BHU, IIT Indore, KIIT University, and Lovely Professional University, rank in the 501-600 band.

The 601-800 category features over 15 Indian institutes, including Aligarh Muslim University, Amity University Noida, IIT Patna, IIIT Hyderabad, NIT Rourkela, University of Delhi, and VIT Vellore, demonstrating the breadth of India's higher education excellence.

Global Context and Ranking Methodology

The rankings feature 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and territories, with the University of Oxford retaining its position as the world's top university for a record 10th consecutive year. China maintains 13 universities in the top 200, while Hong Kong achieves a record six universities in the top 200 due to improvements in teaching metrics.

The rankings assess institutions across teaching environment, research volume and reputation, research influence, international outlook, and industry income, providing a comprehensive evaluation of university performance across multiple dimensions.

Home Ministry Launches Winter Cyber Crime Internship Program

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a winter internship program for 2025, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and cybercrime investigation. Applications close on October 17, 2025.

Comprehensive Eligibility and Academic Coverage

The program welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds, including Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical or Electronic Communication Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Security, Cyber Forensics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics. Law students pursuing LLB or LLM, Criminology, or Sociology are also eligible.

Additional eligible fields include Blockchain Technology, Dark Web domain expertise, Ethical Hacker Certification, API or Software Development, Automation, Malware Analysis, Content Creation, Journalism, Mass Communication, Digital Media, Content Writing, Graphic Designing, Video Editing, Events or PR Studies, and Data Analytics programs.

Application Process and Program Benefits

Applicants must visit i4c.mha.gov.in, navigate to 'What's New,' download the Internship SOP along with application forms, and submit applications online via Google Form. Shortlisted candidates will be informed within 4-5 weeks after the application deadline.

While the internship is unpaid and accommodation is not provided, successful participants receive certificates from I4C. The program offers hands-on exposure to cybersecurity and digital forensics, enabling students to gain practical skills while contributing to India's cybercrime combat efforts.