Wanted: Young scholars with fresh ideas

Disinvestment is the latest solution to propel public sector enterprises into a new growth trajectory and, at the same time, bring in precious money to fund the country’s various social and developmental programmes. But the Centre, however, does not take these sensitive decisions unilaterally or in isolation. Assisting its team of officials in this task are merchant bankers and legal entities, both domestic and international, to decide on the pricing, premium, timing and the possible amount a company could garner given the fluctuating nature of stock markets.

An internship with the Department of Disinvestment, under the Ministry of Finance, is a golden opportunity for students keen on a career in finance. Students with first class graduation degree and pursuing post graduation, or high second class post-graduation pursuing research courses in economics/ finance/ management/ law are eligible to apply. Students with at least 80 per cent marks in Class 12, pursuing a five-year, integrated law course (fourth & fifth year) from any national law schools, are also eligible. The internship is for two months this year.

Three interns will be chosen from the applications for the first batch that will commence in June, 2010. A remuneration of Rs 5,000 a month will be paid. Interns will be provided with the necessary logistics support and will be attached with a director or deputy secretary level officer.

According to Under Secretary Narendra Singh, the department felt the need to offer a programme beneficial to both the department and the intern as it would provide a common platform for an exchange of knowledge between officers of the department with young scholars.

While fresh ideas will enable the department to critically evaluate its activity and enable it to take the necessary corrective steps, Singh says, the internship would provide an excellent window of opportunity for students to gain valuable hands-on experience — especially in areas of corporate law and finance.
Interns can get familiar with the overall process of formulation of disinvestment policy of the Centre.  With this objective in mind, the department, keen on attracting the best of talent from reputed national management institutes/ economic institutes/ schools / national law schools.

The focus will be on areas such as  evaluation of equity and the procedural and legal aspects of disinvestment of government equity in central PSUs.
They will have to present a report or paper on the subject at the end of internship.
Certificates will be issued by the ministry.

Those interested can send their applications with a copy of their resume in the prescribed format (downloaded from www.divest.nic.in) to: Sidhartha Pradhan, Joint Secretary (Administration), Department of Disinvestment, Room No.520 , Block 14, 5th Floor, CGO Complex New Delhi-110003 or e-mail: [e-mail]