Internships & Jobs

In a major push to future-proof India’s creative workforce, the Centre has announced 15,000 scholarships aimed at training young professionals in artificial intelligence (AI) across media, entertainment, gaming, and animation sectors.

The initiative, unveiled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will be implemented in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), with support from global tech giants like Google and YouTube.

According to the official statement, the programme is designed to address a growing skills gap in industries where AI is rapidly reshaping workflows. From animation and visual effects (VFX) to gaming and digital content creation, the integration of AI tools is no longer optional—it is becoming central to production pipelines.

The scholarships will provide selected candidates with access to specialised training modules, advanced tools, and mentorship opportunities. The curriculum, jointly designed by IICT and industry partners, focuses on blending technical AI capabilities with creative workflows and platform-level best practices.

“IICT, in collaboration with Google and YouTube, has designed a curriculum that integrates advanced AI tools, creative workflows, and platform-level best practices, ensuring participants are equipped with production-ready, industry-relevant skills from the outset,” the ministry said.

The emphasis is on hands-on learning. Participants will gain practical exposure to AI-enabled creative processes, allowing them to experiment with emerging technologies that are already transforming global content industries. This includes automation in editing, AI-assisted animation, generative design, and intelligent content optimisation.

Officials say the move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s rapidly evolving media and entertainment ecosystem. With the digital economy expanding and demand for high-quality content rising across platforms, the need for a skilled, tech-savvy workforce has become urgent.

Industry experts view the initiative as timely. As AI continues to disrupt traditional roles, there is increasing concern about employability among young professionals entering creative fields. By equipping them with cutting-edge skills, the programme aims to not only enhance job readiness but also foster innovation.

The government also sees this as an opportunity to position India as a global hub for creative technology talent. With a large youth population and a thriving digital ecosystem, initiatives like this could help bridge the gap between education and industry requirements.

However, the success of the programme will depend on its execution—particularly in ensuring accessibility, quality training, and meaningful industry linkages. If implemented effectively, the scholarships could create a new generation of creators who are not just consumers of AI tools, but innovators shaping the future of digital storytelling.

As AI continues to blur the lines between technology and creativity, this initiative signals a clear shift: the next wave of media professionals in India will need to be as comfortable with algorithms as they are with ideas.

In a student-friendly reform aimed at improving academic flexibility and employability, Panjab University has revised its undergraduate internship guidelines, allowing students to begin internships as early as the third semester. The move replaces the earlier restriction that limited internships to the fifth semester, which had raised concerns among faculty and students alike.

The decision follows discussions held during a Faculty of Arts meeting on February 24, where educators flagged potential academic and administrative challenges posed by the previous rule. Limiting internships to a single semester often led to scheduling conflicts, reduced opportunities, and added pressure on students trying to balance coursework with practical training.

With the Vice-Chancellor’s approval, students enrolled in undergraduate programmes such as BA, BSc, BCom, BCA, and BBA—including honours and research tracks—can now complete their mandatory 2 or 4 credit internships starting from the third semester onwards. Additionally, students are now permitted to undertake internships during summer vacations, rather than being confined to a specific academic term.

This policy shift is expected to significantly enhance internship opportunities for undergraduate students, a key factor in improving job readiness and practical exposure. By allowing early engagement with industry, the university aims to align academic learning with real-world applications—an approach increasingly emphasised in higher education reforms across India.

Officials noted that the earlier restriction often resulted in a bottleneck, with a large number of students seeking internships simultaneously in the fifth semester. This not only strained institutional resources but also limited access to quality internship placements. The revised structure distributes this demand more evenly, giving students greater control over their academic and career planning.

The updated guidelines have been circulated through the office of the Dean of University Instruction to all teaching departments. Meanwhile, the Dean of College Development Council has been tasked with informing affiliated colleges to ensure uniform implementation of the new internship framework.

From an academic perspective, the reform is expected to streamline curriculum delivery while also supporting experiential learning—a cornerstone of modern education policy. It reflects a broader shift towards flexible, student-centric education models that prioritise skill development alongside theoretical knowledge.

Education experts believe that such changes can play a crucial role in bridging the gap between academia and industry. Early internships not only help students build professional networks but also allow them to explore career paths, develop soft skills, and gain hands-on experience well before graduation.

The move by Panjab University comes at a time when skill-based education, internships in India, and job-ready graduates are becoming central themes in higher education policy discussions. By easing restrictions and expanding access, the university is taking a step toward making its graduates more competitive in an increasingly dynamic job market.

Overall, the revised internship policy is expected to benefit thousands of students by offering greater flexibility, reducing academic stress, and enhancing career preparedness—making it a timely and impactful reform in India’s evolving education landscape.

With JEE Advanced 2026 scheduled for May 17 and the application deadline set for May 2, aspirants eyeing admission to Indian Institute of Technology Delhi can access a range of scholarships and financial aid schemes designed to ease the cost of higher education.

Despite relatively lower fees compared to many private engineering colleges, studying at IITs can still be financially challenging for some families. IIT Delhi addresses this through multiple support mechanisms aimed at both merit and need-based assistance.

Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship
Available to undergraduate and select postgraduate students, this scheme benefits around 25% of eligible candidates with annual family income up to ₹8 lakh. Recipients receive ₹4,000 per month along with a full tuition fee waiver. Continuation requires maintaining a minimum SGPA/CGPA of 6.

Institute Free Studentship
Offered to about 10% of students based purely on financial need, this scheme provides a full tuition fee waiver, particularly when the number of MCM beneficiaries exceeds 25%.

Fee Waiver for Reserved Categories
All students belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories are granted a complete tuition fee exemption, irrespective of family income.

Free Mess & Pocket Allowance
Students from SC and ST categories with a family income below ₹8 lakh can avail free basic mess facilities. Additionally, they receive a monthly pocket allowance of ₹1,000 for a specified duration, subject to annual income verification.

Donor-Funded Scholarships
IIT Delhi also offers numerous donor-backed scholarships funded by alumni, trusts, and organisations. These are awarded based on a mix of criteria including financial need, academic performance, JEE rank, course, and in some cases, gender or branch.

These initiatives reflect IIT Delhi’s commitment to ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education, enabling talented students to focus on academic and professional growth.

In an ecosystem flooded with private internships and résumé-padding exercises, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has quietly opened a window into something more substantive—the Digital India Internship Scheme 2026. At first glance, it looks like just another government internship. Look closer, and it begins to resemble a rare bridge between students and the machinery of policymaking itself.

More Than an Internship

The programme offers a two-month engagement (June 1 to July 31, extendable to three months), where students work on live government projects spanning technology, public policy, and digital governance. This is not simulated learning. It is exposure to how decisions are shaped, systems are built, and digital India is actually executed.

In a country where policymaking often feels distant from young talent, this initiative attempts to reverse that distance.

Who Gets In—and Why It Matters

Eligibility is intentionally narrow:

• Undergraduate students in their second-last year
• Minimum 60% marks
• Backgrounds in engineering, computer science, electronics, law, economics, or statistics

This filtering reflects a larger truth: the government is not just looking for participation—it is looking for capability.

But it also raises a familiar concern. By limiting access to high-performing, urban-centric students, does the programme risk reinforcing the same talent pipelines it seeks to diversify?

The Application Window Is Short

• Apply between: April 10 – April 29, 2026
• Shortlisting: April 30 – May 12
• Results: May 19

Applications are to be submitted via the official portal, with standard requirements—academic records, references, and verification. The process is competitive, and rightly so.

The ₹10,000 Question

Interns receive a stipend of ₹10,000 per month along with a certificate. For many, the financial component may seem modest, especially in metropolitan contexts. But that misses the larger point.

The real currency here is access to ministries, to decision-making processes, to mentors who operate at the intersection of governance and technology.

Why This Internship Stands Out

India’s digital transformation—from UPI to Aadhaar—has been globally recognised. Yet, there are limited structured pathways for students to engage with this transformation from within.

This internship attempts to create that pathway.

It allows students not just to observe but to contribute, bringing fresh perspectives into government projects while simultaneously understanding the constraints of public systems.

The Larger Question

Initiatives like this also force us to confront a deeper issue:
Why are such opportunities still limited in scale?

If India is serious about building a future-ready workforce, programmes like the Digital India Internship should not remain selective windows—they should evolve into institutional pipelines connecting education with governance.

Final Take

The Digital India Internship 2026 is not just a summer engagement. It is a glimpse into how India is attempting to integrate young talent into its digital future.

For students, the decision is simple: if you want to understand how policy meets technology, this is where it happens.

For policymakers, the challenge is bigger: ensuring that such opportunities expand beyond a few hundred candidates—and become a cornerstone of India’s talent ecosystem.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Merit Scholarship Scheme 2025–26 is now open, offering ₹48,000 per year to eligible students pursuing professional courses. Applications are being accepted via the National Scholarship Portal, with the last date set for May 15, 2026 (6 PM).

Key Highlights of ONGC Scholarship 2026

• Scholarship amount: ₹48,000 annually
• Total scholarships: 2,000
• Mode of payment: Direct bank transfer (DBT)
• Application window: April 1 to May 15, 2026
• Reservation: 50% seats reserved for girl students

Eligibility Criteria for ONGC Merit Scholarship

Students from SC, ST, OBC, GEN, and EWS categories can apply if they meet the following:

• Minimum 60% marks or 6.0 CGPA in last qualifying exam
• Age below 30 years
• Annual family income:
• Up to ₹4.5 lakh for SC/ST
• Up to ₹2 lakh for OBC/GEN/EWS

Courses Covered Under ONGC Scholarship

The scholarship is available for first-year students enrolled in full-time professional courses such as:

• Engineering
• MBBS
• MBA
• Geology
• Geophysics

How to Apply on NSP Portal

Eligible candidates must apply online through the NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in) by:

1. Registering on the portal
2. Filling in academic and personal details
3. Uploading required documents:
• Academic records
• Income certificate
• Admission proof
4. Submitting the application before the deadline

Renewal Rules and Conditions

The ONGC scholarship is renewable every year, provided students:

• Maintain at least 60% marks
• Continue in the same course
• Meet eligibility conditions annually

Why This Scholarship Matters

Operated by the ONGC Foundation, the scheme aims to support economically weaker students in accessing higher education and building professional careers.

Final Reminder

With the ONGC Scholarship 2026 deadline approaching on May 15, students are advised to:

• Check eligibility carefully
• Submit accurate details
• Complete applications well before the closing date

This initiative continues to play a key role in financially empowering students and improving access to quality education across India.

The All India Council for Technical Education under the Ministry of Education has scaled its National Internship Portal into one of the country’s largest digital skilling platforms, recording nearly 5 crore student registrations in the past four-and-a-half years.

Massive Growth in Student Participation

According to official data, the portal has registered:

• 4.7 crore student sign-ups
• 2.9 crore verified learners
• 79.5 lakh internship opportunities
• 32.7 lakh completed internships

The initiative has brought together 81,483 companies and 12,077 colleges, creating a nationwide ecosystem for structured internship access across more than 200 domains.

Bridging Academia and Industry

The platform has significantly strengthened industry-academia collaboration, with participation from global tech leaders like Microsoft, Google, IBM, Cisco, ServiceNow and Salesforce.

Government organisations such as Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, National Highways Authority of India and the Indian Army are also part of the initiative, offering students real-world exposure across sectors.

Rising Demand for Future-Ready Skills

Student preferences on the portal reflect a clear shift towards emerging and high-demand skills, including:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
• Cloud computing
• App development
• Cybersecurity
• Supply chain management

This trend aligns with India’s broader digital transformation push and evolving workforce requirements.

Nationwide Reach Across Institutions

The internship ecosystem spans institutions across urban, semi-urban, and rural India, enabling wider access to work-based learning. Formal collaborations through MoUs have helped standardise internship opportunities and improve employability outcomes.

Policy Push and Leadership Support

The initiative has been driven by coordinated efforts from policymakers and education leaders, including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alongside senior officials such as Vineet Joshi, Anil Sahasrabuddhe, and Yogesh Singh.

Strengthening India’s Skilling Ecosystem

Officials have emphasised the need for greater participation from MSMEs and SMEs to further expand opportunities and deepen industry engagement. Continuous updates through AICTE dashboards ensure transparency and real-time tracking of internship data.

Final Take

The AICTE National Internship Portal has emerged as a key pillar in India’s skilling mission, connecting millions of students with industry experience. With growing participation and a focus on future-ready skills, the platform is playing a crucial role in shaping a job-ready workforce for the digital economy.