MEA Internship Programme 2026: Eligibility, Stipend & How to Apply

What is the MEA Internship Programme?

MEA started this internship back in 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The idea was fairly simple — let students see how India's foreign policy actually works from the inside instead of just reading about it, and bring people from different backgrounds into the world of diplomacy and international relations.

Once you're selected, you're placed in one of MEA's divisions in New Delhi, working on research, reports, and whatever tasks your Head of Division gives you. A few interns each term even get sent to an Indian Mission abroad, though that depends on how things stand at the time — it's not guaranteed.

There are two terms every year, and MEA puts out a fresh notification for each one on internship.mea.gov.in — so that's really the only page you need to keep checking.

MEA Internship 2026 Important Dates

Each term has its own registration window and deadline, and MEA only announces the exact dates a few weeks before applications open — not months in advance. If you're hoping to get into the 2026 batch, it's worth bookmarking internship.mea.gov.in and checking in once in a while rather than waiting for someone to tell you it's live.

MEA Internship Registration Last Date

There's no single fixed date for this — it changes every term and gets published along with the notification. Since screening is based on a state-wise merit list and seats fill up quickly, it's best not to wait till the last day to register. Once the deadline passes, the portal simply stops taking new applications, so keep checking it during the window MEA announces.

MEA Internship Official Notification PDF

Before each term begins, MEA puts out an official notification PDF on internship.mea.gov.in with the exact dates, number of seats, and any changes to the eligibility rules for that round. It's worth actually downloading and reading this before you start your application — it's the most reliable source there is, more so than any third-party article (including this one).

MEA Internship Salary and Benefits

It's not really a "salary" in the usual sense — this is still an internship — but here's what you actually get for the time you put in.

• If things work out, you might even get sent to an Indian Mission abroad for part of the internship — depends on the situation at the time.
• How long you stay — somewhere between 1 and 3 months — depends on what the division needs and your own availability.

MEA Internship Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply, make sure you tick all of these:

How to Apply for the MEA Internship

Everything happens online at internship.mea.gov.in — there's no application fee, and no offline option either. You'll go through this in two parts: first you register, then you fill out the actual application.

Step 1 — Register on the Portal

Step 2 — Fill the Application

MEA Internship Selection Process

There are two rounds, and both happen online.

Documents Required for MEA Internship Application

Here's what you'll need, at different points in the process — at application, at joining, and at the end.

At the Time of Application

• 1Aadhaar Number
• 2Proof of identity (any government-issued ID)
• 3Proof of address
• 4Proof of age / date of birth (Class 10 or Class 12 marksheet)
• 5Proof of your current educational qualification (degree certificate, or an enrollment letter if you're in your final year)
• 6Bank account details for the stipend payment

At the Time of Joining

• 1A letter from your Head of Institution / HoD / Principal confirming your current status as a student
• 2No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the same, allowing you to take up the internship for the proposed period

At the End of the Internship

• 1A report on the work you did during the internship, submitted through the portal. Some divisions may also ask for a short presentation.

MEA Internship Programme FAQs