NITI Aayog Internship Scheme 2026 – Notification, Eligibility & Application Process
NITI Aayog has invited applications under its Internship Scheme for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and research scholars enrolled in recognized universities or institutions within India or abroad. The internship is unpaid and allows selected candidates to work with various Verticals, Divisions, and Units of NITI Aayog, Government of India. Applications are accepted online only, from the 1st to the 10th of every month, and the internship period ranges from six weeks to six months.
NITI Aayog Internship 2026 – Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), Government of India |
| Scheme Name | NITI Internship Scheme |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Application Window | 1st (00:00 hrs) to 10th (23:59 hrs) of every month |
| Eligibility | UG (2nd year/4th semester onward), PG (1st year/2nd semester onward), Research Scholars |
| Stipend | Unpaid |
| Duration | Minimum 6 weeks, maximum 6 months |
| Attendance Requirement | Minimum 75% |
| Issuing Authority | Dy. Secretary (Admn. 1B), NITI Aayog |
| Reference No. | A-12013/01/2016-Adm.1B |
NITI Aayog Internship Important Dates
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 1st of every month |
| Application End Date | 10th of every month |
| Application Timing | 00:00 hrs (1st) to 23:59 hrs (10th) |
| Earliest Applying Window | Up to 6 months before the desired internship month |
| Latest Applying Window | Not later than 2 months before the desired internship month |
Example: For an internship commencing in April, applications can be submitted anytime between October and February (i.e., 6 months to 2 months in advance).
Is NITI Aayog Internship Paid or Unpaid?
The NITI Aayog Internship is unpaid. As stated in the official guidelines, the internship will be on an unpaid basis. No stipend is provided; the value of the internship lies in the exposure it offers to government functioning and policy formulation, along with an official experience certificate on successful completion.
NITI Aayog Internship Eligibility Criteria
Bonafide students of any recognized University/Institution within India or abroad are eligible, subject to the following conditions.
Eligibility for Undergraduate Students
- Must have completed or appeared in the term-end exams of the 2nd year/4th semester of the bachelor's degree course
- Must have secured not less than 85% or equivalent marks in Class 12th
Eligibility for Postgraduate Students / Research Scholars
- Must have completed or appeared in the term-end exams of the 1st year/2nd semester of the postgraduate programme, OR
- Must be pursuing research/PhD
- Must have secured not less than 70% or equivalent marks in Graduation
Eligibility for Recent Graduates Awaiting Higher Studies
Students who have appeared in their final exam or just completed Graduation/PG and are awaiting admission for higher studies may also be considered, provided that:
- They have secured 70% or more cumulative marks in all years/semesters of their graduation/post-graduation till the date of application
- The period between the declaration of the final exam result and the desired month of internship does not exceed six months (e.g., if the result is declared in June, the candidate can apply for internship beginning up to December)
Eligibility Summary Table
| Category | Academic Stage Required | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Completed/appeared in 2nd year (4th semester) | 85% in Class 12th |
| Postgraduate/Research Scholar | Completed/appeared in 1st year (2nd semester) of PG, or pursuing research/PhD | 70% in Graduation |
| Recent Graduate (awaiting higher studies) | Result declared within last 6 months | 70%+ cumulative in UG/PG |
Domains/Areas Available for NITI Aayog Internship
Applicants must clearly indicate one area of interest from the following list (Annexure A):
- Agriculture
- Data Management and Analysis
- Economics
- Education/Human Resources Development
- Energy Sector
- Foreign Trade/Commerce
- Governance
- Health, Nutrition, Women & Child Development
- Industry
- Infrastructure Connectivity
- Mass Communications and Social Media
- Mining Sector
- Natural Resources, Environment & Forests
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
- Project Appraisal and Management
- Public Finances/Budget
- Public Private Partnership
- Rural Development and SDGs
- Science and Technology
- Skill Development & Employment
- Social Justice and Empowerment
- Sports and Youth Development
- Tourism and Culture
- Urbanization/Smart City
- Water Resources
How to Apply for NITI Aayog Internship 2026 - Step by Step
- Visit the official NITI Aayog internship application portal during the 1st to 10th of the desired application month.
- Enter your name exactly as per your Class 10th/High School certificate.
- Enter your father's full name as per your Class 10th/High School certificate.
- Enter your present correspondence address with a 6-digit PIN code.
- Enter your mobile number (10 digits, without a prefixing zero) and landline number with STD code, if applicable.
- Enter a valid email ID.
- Enter your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, matching your Class 10th certificate.
- Fill in your educational qualification details, including course and discipline (e.g., B.Tech – Civil, B.Sc. – Maths).
- Select your qualification status as "Pursuing" or "Completed." If you have already appeared for a semester exam, mention the next semester as pursuing.
- Enter your marks as a net/average percentage to date; convert CGPA/Grade to equivalent percentage.
- Select one area of interest from the list of 25 domains.
- Review all details carefully before submission - no correspondence for changes will be entertained after submission.
- Note your Registration Number after submitting the form for future reference.
Note: No printout of the online application or supporting documents needs to be sent. For web-related issues, contact [email protected].
NITI Aayog Internship Selection Process
- All applications are reviewed online by the concerned Heads of Verticals/Units/Divisions and OSDs/Senior Consultants for scrutiny and selection.
- Each Vertical/Division/Unit can select a maximum of 3 interns at a time; this limit may be relaxed with permission from the CEO, NITI Aayog.
- The decision of the Adviser regarding a candidate's suitability as an intern is final and binding.
- Selected candidates may be asked to submit a soft copy of their No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their Head of Department/Principal before the offer letter is issued.
- The original NOC and mark sheets must be produced at the time of joining; any discrepancy found will result in cancellation of candidature.
- Applications that do not meet eligibility conditions are automatically rejected by the system.
- A candidate can apply for the internship only once during a financial year.
NITI Aayog Internship Duration & Attendance Rules
- The internship period is a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of six months.
- Interns not completing the requisite period will not be issued a certificate.
- A minimum of 75% attendance is mandatory; interns must mark In and Out time daily.
- Less than 75% attendance results in no extension of the internship period and no experience certificate.
- Attendance records and work supervision are maintained by the Heads of the concerned Verticals/Divisions/Units.
NITI Aayog Internship Certificate
On successful completion, an Experience Certificate is issued by the Adviser of the concerned Subject Division on official letterhead (format specified in Annexure B of the guidelines). The certificate covers the areas worked on, performance remarks, and conduct during the internship period. Interns are also required to submit a brief report or paper on their learning experience at the end of the assignment.
NITI Aayog Internship - Logistics & Support
- Interns are required to bring their own laptops.
- NITI Aayog provides working space, internet facility, and other necessities as deemed fit by the concerned Heads.
Important Links
- Notification/Guidelines PDF: NITI Internship Scheme, Ref. No. A-12013/01/2016-Adm.1B (dated 22 November 2018)
- Instructions to Fill Application Form: As issued by NITI Aayog
- Official Website: niti.gov.in
- Query Contact: [email protected]
Content sourced entirely from official NITI Aayog Internship Scheme guidelines (Ref. A-12013/01/2016-Adm.1B) and the official application form instructions. No details regarding SOPs, letters of recommendation, or Aadhaar submission are mentioned in the official scheme - these should not be added unless independently verified from a current official source, as some third-party portals have added such requirements without official basis.
