Full Breakdown
Ministry of External Affairs Opens Applications for 2026 Internship Programme
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Programme Overview
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced an Internship Programme for the October 2026 intake, running through March 2027. The initiative is intended to give Indian-citizen interns exposure to the Ministry’s work while promoting greater diversity among participants.
Eligibility and Benefits
Applicants must be Indian citizens who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university at the time of applying; final-year students may also apply if the internship is required for graduation. Candidates must be no older than 25 years as on December 31 of the internship year. Selected interns will receive a monthly honorarium of INR10,000 and a one-time reimbursement for round-trip air travel, capped at the prevailing economy-class fare between Delhi and the candidate’s domicile state capital or college location.
Application Timeline
The official notice sets the application deadline for September 27, 2026. Submissions are to be made through the portal [internship.mea.gov.in](https://internship.mea.gov.in). After the deadline, the Ministry will publish a list of shortlisted candidates on October 7, 2026.
Diversity and Inclusivity Objectives
The programme explicitly aims to broaden representation across qualifications, domicile, and socio-economic backgrounds, with a particular focus on improving gender balance within the intern cohort.
Official Notice Summary
According to the Ministry’s announcement, the internship seeks to combine practical diplomatic exposure with financial support, while ensuring that eligibility criteria and timelines are clearly communicated to prospective candidates. The notice advises applicants to review the full MEA notification for detailed requirements before submitting their forms.