NITI Aayog Internship Scheme 2026 — Details, Eligibility & How to Apply
What is NITI Aayog?
NITI Aayog is the Government of India’s leading policy think tank, set up to drive economic growth and strengthen cooperative federalism across the country. The Prime Minister heads the body as Chairperson. As of mid-2026, Ashok Kumar Lahiri serves as Vice Chairperson, alongside several full-time Members, with senior Union Ministers holding ex-officio positions on the council.
About the Internship Programme
NITI Aayog runs an Internship Scheme open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as research scholars, studying at recognized universities or institutions in India and abroad. Selected interns are placed with one of NITI Aayog’s various verticals, divisions, or cells and work alongside its policy teams.
To join, candidates must complete an online registration and application form.
Why This Internship Exists
The scheme is designed to give shortlisted candidates hands-on, short-term exposure to how NITI Aayog’s different units function.
Goals of the programme:
- Connect promising young academics with NITI Aayog’s ongoing work, creating value for both the institution and the intern
- Give students direct insight into how government functions and how development policy is shaped — while allowing them to contribute real policy inputs such as empirical research, briefing notes, and position papers
Internship Format
The internship is conducted on-site in New Delhi.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be enrolled at a recognized university or institution, in India or overseas, and meet one of the following academic criteria:
- Undergraduates — Have completed or appeared for term-end exams of the 4th semester (2nd year) of a bachelor’s degree, with at least 85% marks (or equivalent) in Class 12.
- Postgraduates / Research scholars — Have completed or appeared for term-end exams of the 2nd semester (1st year) of a postgraduate programme, or be pursuing a PhD/research degree, with at least 70% marks (or equivalent) at the graduate level.
- Recent graduates awaiting further studies — Candidates who have just finished or appeared in their final exams and are waiting to join further studies may still apply, provided their cumulative marks across all years/semesters of graduation or postgraduation are 70% or higher as of the application date.
- Timing rule — No more than six months should have passed between the declaration of final results and the intended internship start month. For example, a result declared in June allows an application for an internship starting any time up to December of that year.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official registration link (available on NITI Aayog’s website / linked at the end of this post).
Location
New Delhi.
Duration
Internships run for a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of six months. Interns who do not complete the minimum required duration will not receive a completion certificate.
Application Deadline
10 August 2026
Need Help?
For technical issues while submitting your application online, reach out to NIC at: nic-niti[at]gov[dot]in
Note: Details such as leadership positions and deadlines can change — always cross-check the latest information on the official NITI Aayog website before applying.