The Indian Army has opened the second edition of its Indian Army Internship Programme (IAIP) 2026-27, bringing paid internship opportunities for students in fields linked to defence technology and emerging technologies. The programme offers stipends of up to ₹75,000 and is being run through the AICTE National Internship Portal.
According to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), the internship is designed as a 75-day engagement. It includes 60 days of on-site practical training and office work, mainly in New Delhi/NCR for the principal listings, followed by 15 days of work from home. Selected interns will work under Army officers and subject-matter experts while contributing to live defence-related projects.
The new edition follows a pilot conducted in 2025 that focused on wargaming, simulation and niche research. The Army has expanded that pilot into a multi-project framework and intends it to function as an annual feature.
Domains and project areas
The internship covers several areas that align with the Army’s modernisation priorities. These include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking, Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Quantum Computing and Cryptography, Space and Satellite Technologies, Advanced Weapon Systems and Defence Electronics, 5G/6G Communication Technologies, Financial Technologies (FinTech), Mass Communication / Strategic Communication, and other areas such as operational logistics, hospital information systems, wargaming and simulation, and data analytics.
Reports indicated around 43 specialised projects across Army establishments such as the Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS), Army Design Bureau, EME Directorate, DG Signals, Directorate General of Medical Services, Directorate General of Army Air Defence, Infantry Directorate and WARDEC. The programme received over 77,000 applications in its initial phase, with strong interest in AI/ML roles. One DGIS project alone drew more than 11,800 applications.
Southern Command has separately opened opportunities in Pune, scheduled around 16 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, in areas including cybersecurity, AI/ML, collaborative unmanned systems, AI-enabled geospatial analysis and process automation. Northern Command has also invited applications for a similar 75-day internship focused on defence technologies.
Stipend, duration and academic benefits
The stipend is up to ₹75,000 for the full internship period, but it is paid only after successful completion and is subject to attendance requirements. An intern with less than 75 per cent attendance is not eligible for any stipend. Individual project listings may also specify lower ceilings. Successful participants can also earn up to 15 AICTE academic credits and receive a recognised certificate from the Indian Army.
Eligibility and how to apply
Eligibility differs from project to project and is not uniform across the programme. Most openings are meant for undergraduate, postgraduate or recent alumni students from AICTE-approved technical and professional courses, commonly B.Tech/B.E. or equivalent in Computer Science, Electronics, related engineering disciplines, or specialised streams such as AI/ML, Data Science or Cyber Security.
Applicants must be available for the entire 75-day period, and police verification is mandatory before joining. Students may apply for multiple projects, but they can accept only one offer. Applications are to be submitted online through the AICTE National Internship Portal at internship.aicte-india.org, under the Indian Army dashboard. There is no application fee, and deadlines vary by project listing rather than following a single programme-wide cut-off.
Accommodation will not be provided, so interns must make their own arrangements. Working hours are typically Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with formal dress required and personal electronic devices restricted inside the premises. The internship does not guarantee placement or employment.
What the initiative signals
The IAIP shows the Indian Army’s attempt to strengthen indigenous capability in AI, unmanned systems, cybersecurity and related fields by giving students structured exposure to defence-related projects and research environments. The programme is meant to connect academic learning with practical defence applications and support technology-driven modernisation, without offering employment assurance.
Interested candidates should check the AICTE National Internship Portal for live listings, project-specific eligibility requirements, stipend ceilings, locations and closing dates, as these continue to be updated by different Army formations.
