MEA Internship 2026 applications open: apply by September 27 for October intake

In short

Applications for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Internship Programme for the October 2026 intake are open until September 27, 2026.
The internship programme will run from October 2026 to March 2027, with a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 for selected candidates.
A maximum of 30 candidates will be selected, with priority given to applicants from TADP districts and SC, ST, OBC, EWS categories.
Candidates must be Indian citizens, 25 years old or below, and have completed a bachelor's degree or be in their final year with a mandatory internship.
The selection process is entirely online, involving preliminary screening based on academic performance and a personal interview via videoconferencing.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has opened applications for its Internship Programme, inviting eligible Indian citizens to apply for the October 2026 intake. The application window for this term closes on September 27, 2026, with the internship scheduled to run from October 2026 to March 2027.

Official notification screenshot — Screenshot of the official page at internship.mea.gov.in

This initiative aims to provide value to interns while enhancing gender inclusivity and increasing diversity across qualifications, domicile, and socio-economic backgrounds among the participants. The MEA plans to select a maximum of 30 candidates for this term, offering a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 to those chosen.

Eligibility and Application Process

To be eligible for the MEA Internship Programme, candidates must be Indian citizens and 25 years old or below as of December 31 of the internship year. Applicants are required to have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university at the time of applying. Students in the final year of an undergraduate programme are also eligible if an internship is a mandatory component of their final-year curriculum.

The entire selection process is conducted online through the official MEA internship portal, internship.mea.gov.in. It comprises two stages: an initial preliminary screening and a personal interview conducted via videoconferencing. The list of shortlisted candidates is scheduled to be displayed on October 7, 2026.

Selection Criteria and Diversity Focus

The Ministry of External Affairs employs a quota-cum-weightage system for selecting candidates, with a strong emphasis on promoting diversity. Academic performance in Class 12 and graduation is considered during the preliminary screening stage. Priority will be given to applicants from Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme (TADP) districts during this initial screening.

During the personal interview stage, priority will be extended to candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories. In addition, the ministry has stipulated that a minimum of 30% of the internships may be filled by women candidates to ensure better gender inclusivity. Applicants from 14 states and four Union Territories are considered in each term, with the number of candidates called for interview capped at three times the number of interns to be engaged.

Financial Support and Logistics

Selected interns will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 for the duration of the programme. Plus the stipend, the MEA will cover the cost of one round-trip journey by air between Delhi and the state capital of the candidate’s domicile state or their college/university. This travel cost is subject to an economy-class airfare ceiling.

However, selected candidates are in charge of arranging and bearing the cost of their accommodation and meals in Delhi throughout the internship period. All eligible candidates are encouraged to apply online via the official website, internship.mea.gov.in, before the September 27 deadline.

Event	Date/Value
Application Deadline	September 27
Shortlisted Candidates List Display	October 7
Internship Duration	October 2026 to March 2027
Monthly Stipend	Rs 10,000
Maximum Age (as of Dec 31 of internship year)	25 years
States Covered under Quota	14
Union Territories Covered under Quota	4
Maximum Candidates Selected	30
Interview Call Ratio (vs. interns)	3 times
Minimum Women Candidates	30%

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →