Indian Army Launches 2026-27 Internship Programme with Up to ₹75,000 Stipend in AI, Drones and Cybersecurity
The Indian Army has launched the second edition of its Indian Army Internship Programme (IAIP) for 2026-27, opening paid internship opportunities for students in several defence technology and emerging-technology fields, with stipends of up to ₹75,000. The programme is being offered through the AICTE National Internship Portal and is aimed at building a stronger link between academic training and operationally relevant work in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, drones, robotics and autonomous systems.
Announced by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), the internship is structured as a 75-day engagement. This includes 60 days of on-site practical training and office work, primarily in New Delhi and the National Capital Region for the main listings, followed by 15 days of work from home. Selected interns will work under the guidance of Army officers and subject-matter experts while contributing to live defence-related projects.
The new edition builds on a pilot run in 2025 that focused on wargaming, simulation and niche research areas. According to the Army’s plan, the initiative has now been expanded into a structured multi-project framework and is intended to become an annual feature.
Technology areas and participating Army formations
The internship programme spans a wide range of domains closely linked to the Army’s modernisation priorities. These include artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security and ethical hacking, drones, UAVs and counter-drone systems, robotics and autonomous systems, quantum computing and cryptography, space and satellite technologies, advanced weapon systems and defence electronics, 5G and 6G communication technologies, financial technologies, mass communication and strategic communication, as well as operational logistics, hospital information systems, wargaming and simulation, and data analytics.
Reports indicate that around 43 specialised projects have been listed across Army establishments, including 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 reportedly drew more than 77,000 applications in its initial phase, with artificial intelligence and machine learning among the most sought-after areas. One DGIS project alone received over 11,800 applications.
In addition to the main listings, Southern Command has separately opened internship opportunities based in Pune, scheduled around 16 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. Those openings cover cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, 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 credit
The stipend is capped at up to ₹75,000 for the full internship period, but it will be disbursed only after successful completion and is subject to attendance norms. Interns with less than 75 per cent attendance will not be eligible for any stipend. Individual project listings may also carry lower stipend ceilings.
Along with the stipend, successful participants can earn up to 15 AICTE academic credits and receive a certificate from the Indian Army. The academic-credit component makes the internship relevant not only for exposure to defence work but also for formal recognition within higher-education requirements.
Eligibility and application process
Eligibility is not uniform across the programme and depends on the specific project. 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 qualifications in Computer Science, Electronics and related engineering fields, or specialised streams such as AI and ML, Data Science and Cyber Security.
Applicants must be available for the entire 75-day duration, and police verification is mandatory before joining. Students may apply for multiple projects, but they can accept only one offer. Applications have 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 differ from project to project rather than following a single programme-wide cut-off.
Accommodation is not provided, so interns must arrange their own stay. The working schedule is typically Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The programme also requires formal dress and restricts the use of personal electronic devices inside the premises. The internship does not promise placement or employment after completion.
Why the programme matters
The IAIP reflects the Army’s effort to build indigenous capability in areas such as AI, unmanned systems, cybersecurity and related technologies by giving students direct exposure to defence-related projects and research environments. The structure of the programme suggests an attempt to make student engagement more systematic, moving beyond a one-off pilot to a wider framework that can be repeated annually.
By bringing interns into Army establishments and technical directorates, the initiative is designed to connect academic learning with practical defence applications, encourage innovation and contribute to the wider technology ecosystem around military modernisation. At the same time, the Army has made clear that the internship is not a route to guaranteed employment.
Interested candidates have been advised to monitor the AICTE National Internship Portal for live listings, project-specific eligibility requirements, stipend ceilings, locations and closing dates, as these are updated by different Army formations.
