HRD ministry offers internship programme for students

The Human Resource Development Ministry has offered an internship programme for students of higher educational institutions to provide them with exposure to the functioning of the government and policy-making at the ministry.

The scheme is meant for students pursuing graduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in any stream, including engineering, at a recognised university or any other higher educational institution. 

Indian students pursuing higher education abroad may also apply to avail of the opportunity. This is the first time that the HRD Ministry has offered such a programme.

“The scheme will commence from October 1 and remain available for a period of one year. It is neither a job nor any assurance for any job in the ministry or any institution/body under its control,” a ministry official said.

There will be six batches of internship, with the first starting from October. The ministry will select a maximum of six candidates in each batch. The internship will be offered initially for two months, which could be extended to six months.

Candidates pursuing a three or four-year programme are required to have completed at least two years or four semesters of the course. Those pursuing a five-year integrated programme should have completed three years or six semesters.

On successful completion of the internship, students will be awarded a certificate by the ministry and a token stipend of Rs 10,000. The ministry, however, will not pay any stipend for extended period of six months.

Students must send their applications to the ministry by August 30 for selection under the internship programme for the first three batches starting from October 1. The last date for sending applications for batches starting from April 2015 is February 28.