Students Can Apply for DRDO’s Six-Month Paid Internship at DRDE Gwalior

DRDE in Gwalior, which comes under DRDO, has started accepting applications for its paid internship programme. Only eight seats are on offer this time, all meant for students who are still pursuing their degrees.

Selected interns will receive a fixed ₹5,000 every month for at least six months. The money comes in two parts: ₹15,000 after the first three months and another ₹15,000 once the full period ends. The programme is expected to start on 1 January 2027, though that date remains tentative. Those chosen should hear back around 1 December 2026.

Three seats each go to Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences. The remaining two are for Engineering students. For Biological Sciences, you need to be in the third or fourth semester of an M.Sc. or 7th or 8th semester of a B.Tech in a comparable field. M.Sc Chemical Sciences. student in the third or fourth semester of Chemistry. Engineering applicants must be in the final year of a B.E. or B.Tech in Electronics, Mechanical, IT or Computer Science.

Candidates have to be Indian citizens under 28 years of age as on 14 November 2026. They also need at least 75 percent marks or a 7.5 CGPA from a recognised university or college. Selection happens through shortlisting of applications. A short phone or video call may follow if the lab wants more details. No written test is involved.

Interns will join ongoing projects at the Gwalior laboratory and see how defence research actually works. The lab will not provide hostel or food. Completing the internship does not give any claim to a permanent job in DRDO.

Send the filled form and required papers by speed post to the Director, DRDE, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474002. You can also email the scanned documents to director.drde@gov.in and hrd.drde@gov.in. Everything must reach by 14 November 2026.

For final-year and postgraduate students, especially those from Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states, this is a straightforward chance to spend six months inside a working defence lab. Parents and teachers helping students plan the last year of study may find the clear rules and fixed stipend useful while deciding the next step. Check the full notification carefully and post the papers well before the deadline.