In shortThe Ministry of External Affairs internship programme offers 1 to 3 month internships in Delhi with a Rs 10,000 monthly stipend plus round-trip airfare. You must be an Indian citizen, hold a graduate degree or be in final year with mandatory internship, and be under 25 years old. Selection is by academic merit and interview. Apply online through the ministry's internship portal.
Key facts
- Offered by
- Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
- Stipend
- Rs 10,000 per month, plus one time round trip economy class airfare between the intern's home state or college and Delhi. Accommodation and meals are the intern's own responsibility.
- Duration
- Minimum one month and maximum three months within a term. Two terms run each year, Term I from April to September and Term II from October to March.
- Location
- New Delhi
The Ministry of External Affairs internship programme brings a small group of graduates into the ministry’s territorial and functional divisions in Delhi. Interns see how diplomatic files are handled, sit in on the work of a division and produce written outputs, which makes the programme popular with students aiming at the foreign service or at international relations research.
The ministry runs two terms a year and takes a capped number of interns in each. An intern is engaged for between one and three months within a term rather than for the whole term. Selection uses academic merit with state wise merit lists prepared separately for male and female candidates, followed by an interview stage that calls roughly three times the number of interns needed. The ministry pays a monthly stipend and reimburses one round trip economy airfare, but interns arrange their own housing.
Who is eligible
- Must be an Indian citizen
- Must hold at least a graduate degree from a recognised university, or be in the final year where an internship is a mandatory part of the course
- Age must not exceed 25 years as on 31 December of the internship year
- A maximum of 30 interns are engaged by the ministry in each term
- Selection is by preliminary screening on academic merit followed by a personal interview, with state wise merit lists prepared separately for male and female candidates
- Applications must be made online only through the ministry's internship portal
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for Ministry of External Affairs internship?
You must be an Indian citizen, hold at least a graduate degree from a recognised university or be in the final year where internship is mandatory, and be aged 25 or below as on 31 December of the internship year.
What is the stipend for MEA internship?
The ministry pays Rs 10,000 per month. Additionally, you receive one time round trip economy class airfare between your home state or college and Delhi. You must arrange and pay for accommodation and meals yourself.
How long is the MEA internship duration?
The internship lasts between one and three months within a term. The ministry runs two terms yearly: Term I from April to September and Term II from October to March.
How is selection done for MEA internship?
Selection follows preliminary screening on academic merit with state wise merit lists prepared separately for male and female candidates, followed by a personal interview. The ministry engages a maximum of 30 interns per term.
How do I apply for Ministry of External Affairs internship?
Applications must be made online only through the Ministry of External Affairs internship portal. The portal opens during the application window before each term begins.
Where is the MEA internship located?
The internship is based in New Delhi. Interns work in the ministry's territorial and functional divisions, learning how diplomatic files are handled and producing written outputs.
Before you apply: confirm every date, fee and eligibility rule on the official website linked on this page. Public and Policy is an independent portal, not a government body, and details change without notice.
