Overview

• Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has called for widespread consultations on the caste census, asserting the Modi government risks mishandling the politically sensitive initiative.
• The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), launched in October 2024, has faced low participation, with only 8,725 of 82,000 internship offers resulting in active placements.
• High attrition rates and dissatisfaction among interns have further underscored the scheme's challenges, raising concerns about its design and execution.
• Allocated funds for the PMIS were drastically reduced from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 380 crore, with only Rs 21.1 crore spent by February 2025, signaling significant underutilization.
• The Congress has criticized the government’s broader reform agenda, citing a lack of administrative capacity and poor follow-through on flagship programs announced after its 2024 re-election.