Govt Revamps PM Internship Scheme with Higher ₹9,000 Stipend, Wider Age Limit After Low Uptake
Internships & Jobs
Overseas scholarship slots for SCs to double to 250 from 2026–27; panel flags funding
The Scheduled Caste (SC) students who were beneficiaries of the scholarship in the year 2025-26 might have only been 36.07 lakh which is less than half of their target set. Apart from increasing the seats and monthly stipends of students from 4,000 to 8,000 the government has also decided to double the number of seats available under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme for Scheduled Caste students from 125 to 250 in the year 2026-27. Moreover, the seats for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) students have also been raised from 20 to 50. This information was conveyed to the Parliamentary standing committee by the ministries of social justice and empowerment and tribal affairs, a joint communication revealed.
On the other hand, the 31-member Social Justice and Empowerment Standing Committee, established by the Lok Sabha and headed by P.C. Mohan, a BJP member, in its report on the demands for grant of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), has pointed the finger at the lack of funds for the NOS scheme and how the allocated money was spent.
Through the NOS scheme, students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) who are best in studies are given government grants for pursuing higher education in foreign universities ranked in the top 1,000.
Between 202122 and 202425, MoTA spent 21.95 crore on 68 ST students under the NOS scheme. The scheme has been allocated 20 crore for Financial Year (FY) 202627.
The committee however was not happy that the ministry had only used 8,757.04 crore of the revised estimate of 10,824.18 crore for the year 202526 as of February 23, 2026 this amount being almost 19% less than the allocation for MoTA. The committee also observed that the ministry has been allocated 15,421.97 crore for 202627 against the proposed demand of 17,223.47 crore, a difference of about 10.5% less than the sought amount.
According to the committee report tabled on Wednesday, the annual maintenance allowance for ST students will increase from $15,400 to $19,250 in the upcoming Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) cycle for 2026–27 to 2030–31.
The MoTA also informed the panel that it will consider raising the family income ceiling for ST students from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh, bringing it in line with the eligibility criteria for SC students.
However, the committee flagged funding concerns in the NOS scheme for SC students. The budget estimate for the NOS scheme for SC students in 2026–27 is ₹125 crore, down from ₹130 crore in 2025–26, despite the proposal to double the number of slots. According to a report, the department will provide scholarships for 250 slots while the budget was only for 125 slots. At present, SC students are given up to $15,400 per year as a maintenance allowance while doing their studies in the US and other countries, and 9,900 in the United Kingdom.
The panel also mentioned the problems of the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) for SC students which is a Department of Social Justice and Empowerment scheme through states and Union Territories implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The number of students who received financial help was reduced to 36.07 lakh in 2025-26 against a target of 76.55 lakh - less than 50% achievement. The scheme helped 47.38 lakh students in 2023-24 and 48.04 lakh in 2024-25.
This ministry has suggested increasing the maximum family income limit from 2.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh for the next Finance Commission cycle starting in 2026-27. Besides that, the ministry has also proposed to double the number of slots from 3,500 to 7,000 and to increase the monthly stipend from 4,000 to 8,000.
NIT Calicut opens applications for summer internship programme 2026
NIT Calicut has started its applications for the 2026 summer internship programme with UG students getting a 60-day and PG students a 30-day option; see details here
The National Institute of Technology Calicut has released the Summer Internship Programme 2026 online applications. The programme is a chance for students to do short-term academic projects with faculty members as guides. It can be conducted in an offline, online, or hybrid mode.
Internships can be done in either of two durations: 60 days or 30 days. Participants who get selected will be doing research or academic work in the facilities of the institute with a faculty member who acts as a guide.
Application schedule and internship duration
Registration for the programme will begin on March 14, 2026 and will close on March 23, 2026. After the application window closes, departments will scrutinise submissions and conduct the selection process between March 24 and April 01, 2026.
Candidates may be called for interviews during the evaluation stage, depending on departmental requirements. The Centre for Career Development will communicate selection results to applicants on April 06, 2026 through email.
Students opting for the two-month internship must report to the institute between May 4 and May 15, 2026. The internship period for this category will conclude by July 15, 2026. Those choosing the one-month internship must report on or before June 15, 2026.
Eligibility conditions for applicants
The programme is open to students enrolled in several academic streams. Eligible candidates include B.Tech. or BE students completing their second or third year, B.Arch. students finishing the fourth, sixth, or eighth semester, and postgraduate students such as M.Tech., ME, M.Sc., M.Plan, MBA, MA, and MS who are completing the first year.
BSc. Students who have completed their second year are also eligible. Applicants must have secured a minimum CGPA of 6.5 out of 10 or at least 65 per cent aggregate marks up to the latest published semester results.
Participants must be regular full-time students with no pending back papers or disciplinary cases at their parent institutions. Students currently enrolled at NIT Calicut are not eligible, as the programme is intended for candidates from other institutions.
Application process and fees
Applicants are required to submit a one-page resume, a one-page statement of purpose, a bonafide certificate endorsed by the head of their institution, academic mark sheets, consolidated grade cards showing CGPA, and their institute identity card combined into a single PDF file. A passport-size photograph must also be uploaded.
Students must possess an APAAR ID for the application. Those without one can generate it through the DigiLocker platform by verifying academic details and Aadhaar information.
A non-refundable registration fee of Rs.118, inclusive of GST, must be paid during application. After selection, candidates must confirm participation by paying the internship fee before 02:00 PM on April 09, 2026. The fee is Rs.5900 for the two-month programme and Rs.3540 for the one-month option, both inclusive of GST.
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Opens Applications for Summer Research Internship Scheme 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad has opened the Summer Research Internship Scheme (SRIS) 2026 for applications, Indian undergraduate and postgraduate students have an amazing chance to carry out real research work at the premier technical institute through the programme.
This initiativeump, which was issued by the Office of the Dean (Research& Development), offers a Long-Term Research Internship as well to those who are selected for working in advanced research projects with faculty members of different departments.
Three Categories of Internships
The scheme is divided into three categories:
- Category I: For BTech students
- Category II: For postgraduate students
- Category III: Long-Term Research Internship lasting six to twelve months
The summer internship under Categories I and II will run for two months, while Category III provides extended research engagement.
The institute has allocated three institute-funded internship positions per department for Categories I and II. Internships may also be project-funded or self-funded, depending on the availability of research grants.
Application Deadlines
Candidates applying for Category I and II internships must submit their applications by April 15, 2026, while the deadline for Category III (long-term internship) is April 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted via email to
Selection will be based on several academic and research parameters, including CGPA, research publications, academic awards, research proposals, and letters of recommendation.
Eligibility Criteria
Students from premier institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institutes of Management, National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, National Institute of Science Education and Research, and other central universities must have a minimum CGPA of 7.5.
Applicants from other institutions are required to maintain a minimum CGPA of 8.0. Students with academic backlogs or disciplinary records are not eligible to apply.
Application Process and Fees
Applicants must submit the completed application form along with:
A detailed resume
Bonafide certificate
Institutional identity card
A 500-word research proposal
Payment receipt of the ₹500 non-refundable application fee
All documents must be combined into a single PDF file and emailed to the institute. The application fee can be paid via online transfer or UPI, and demand drafts will not be accepted.
Stipend and Facilities
Institute-funded interns under the summer programme will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 for up to two months. Project-funded interns may receive financial support depending on the conditions of the respective research grants.
Long-term interns under Category III will not receive institute funding but may be supported through research projects or self-funding. These interns must also pay semester tuition fees and provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their parent institution.
Selected interns will be provided temporary institute identity cards, granting access to campus facilities such as the library, laboratories, computer centres, sports facilities, and health services. Hostel accommodation may also be available on a payment basis, subject to availability.
The institute said the research internship scheme aims to encourage young scholars to engage in cutting-edge research and strengthen India’s academic innovation ecosystem.
Green Hub Northeast Fellowship 2026 Application Deadline Extended to March 20
Applications for the Green Hub Fellowship are now open till March 20, 2026. Young people from Northeast India and north Bengal can join a one year stay focused on nature, stories, and community work. This chance helps youth share environmental ideas using video and media. And they get hands- on training in filming, storytelling, and recording local voices. It shows real problems and green solutions in daily life.
During the stay, fellows make short films, collect community stories, and talk directly to people about nature, jobs, and climate. They also find out how stories start to talk and bring action in small groups. But it seems like a good way to connect people with the land. Plus, the focus is on making change through shared experiences. Not every story has a clear ending, but most lead to real talks. That's probably what matters most.
According to the organisers, the decision to extend the application deadline is aimed at giving more young people in the region a chance to benefit from this opportunity. Those who are interested in applying should send their application forms via the official fellowship website by the new deadline.
In exceptional cases, applicants who are not able to make the online application can also send a video application through WhatsApp. They can also pass on their contact details to the fellowship team, who will help them with the completion of the process.
Based on the history of the programme, the fellowship has empowered numerous young local communicators and storytellers of the region. Besides, many of them have recorded the environment issues, heritage knowledge and local solutions using cameras and mobile phones.
Besides, the organisers have invited people to spread the message of the fellowship announcement in their circles and to suggest young people who are most likely to be interested in applying. The objective of the programme is to give a louder voice to the new ones and to provide the youth with an opportunity to engage in a dialogue on environment protection and community development in a meaningful way.
Google Summer 2026 Public Policy Fellowship Application Window now open including 10 Lakh Exposure
Google is opening the door for students to engage deeply with tech and internet policy by offering an internship program with the Washington, D.C. public interest community through its Summer 2026 Public Policy Fellowship.
This fellowship is scheduled for June - August 2026and successful candidates who commit full-time will be granted $12,000 (around 10 lakh) as a stipendand those working part-time will be compensated $6,000. The initiative is targeting mainly students at different levels of higher education i.e. undergraduates, postgraduates and PhD students who are passionate about digital rights, technology governance, internet policy and public policy research.
Fellows will be the great benefit of positions in host entities where they perform the tasks, tackle problems and come up with solutions related to the foci of the digital ecosystem. Specifically, the students will research policies, produce whitepapers, interact with relevant advocacy groups and also network with those shaping technology and internet standards.
Besides, they are also qualified for policy-oriented training and regular dialogues with field professionals and policy veterans.
As per the programme rules, applicants should be enrolled or have been admitted to a recognized higher education institution in the United States by August 30, 2026and must have reached the age of 18 by January 1, 2026. Besides meeting the eligibility criteria, the candidates should have very good research, writing and analytical skills.
The applicants are invited to apply for the fellowship through the official portal and can intend for up to two host organisations. The deadline for submission is April 9 2026 12 PM Eastern Time. This fellowship is regarded as one of the leading early-career programmes for students who want to explore the interface of technology, public policy and digital governance. In fact, it is of particular relevance given the rising widespread discussions globally around artificial intelligence, privacy and internet regulation.
Officials suggest students interested in this opportunity to apply early because applications are processed on a rolling basis and the spots could potentially get filled before the final deadline.
IIT Gandhinagar Opens Applications for SRIP 2026; UG, PG Students Can Apply for Summer Research Internship
