Calcutta University Colleges Decline PM Internship Scheme Amid Selection Confusion

Under the PMIS, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, the government aims to provide 1 crore internships in the top 500 companies over five years.

Several colleges affiliated with Calcutta University (CU) have declined participation in the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS), citing concerns over the selection process and lack of prior consultation. The university issued a notice to its affiliated colleges on March 4, but the decision to designate certain institutions as nodal points created confusion among college authorities.

Selection Process Raises Questions

Under the PMIS, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, the government aims to provide 1 crore internships in the top 500 companies over five years. CU officials stated that the notification was issued following a circular from the central government, aiming to streamline the mandatory internship requirement under the new four-year undergraduate programme.

However, many college principals have raised objections, questioning the selection criteria.

In Kolkata, six colleges—including Bangabasi, Basanti Devi, New Alipore, Maharaja Manindra Chandra, and Vidyasagar College—were chosen as nodal colleges.

In Howrah, two colleges were selected, one in Hooghly, and four in South 24 Parganas.

College principals claim they were not consulted before being listed as nodal institutions.

College Principals Express Concerns

Several college principals have raised concerns over the lack of communication and unclear selection process. Many stated that they were unaware of the criteria used to designate nodal colleges and had not received clear guidelines on their responsibilities. Some principals emphasized that any new initiative required governing body approval, while others questioned why the state higher education department had not been involved. There were also reports of principals receiving calls from unknown agencies regarding the scheme, adding to the confusion. In response, many institutions have chosen to wait for further clarification from CU before proceeding.

University Defends Its Move

Interim CU Vice-Chancellor Santa Datta De addressed the concerns, stating that participation in PMIS is not mandatory, he said that if principals do not wish to pursue the programme, that is their choice.

Despite this clarification, resistance remains high among CU-affiliated colleges, with many waiting for further communication from the university or the West Bengal higher education department before committing to the scheme.

PMIS Implementation and National Context

The PMIS aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, offering structured internship opportunities for students across India. However, its implementation has seen resistance in some states, including West Bengal, where tensions between the state government and central authorities over education policies have led to cautious participation in central schemes.

With only a few days remaining before the internship programme rollout, CU-affiliated colleges continue to debate their involvement, calling for greater transparency in selection processes and clearer implementation guidelines from both university and government authorities.

Read More

• IIIT-Delhi Launches B.Tech in Computer Science and Economics
• Madras High Court Stays NIRF 2025 Rankings, Cites Transparency Concerns