NITI Aayog — the National Institution for Transforming India — is the Government of India's apex public-policy think-tank, based in New Delhi. Its internship scheme gives students and researchers a close-up view of how national policy is researched, argued and shaped. For anyone drawn to economics, development, health, agriculture, infrastructure or data-driven governance, few internships sit nearer the centre of India's policy conversation.
NITI Aayog works through a set of Verticals, Divisions and Units, each focused on a sector or theme — economics, health, agriculture, infrastructure, data and analytics, social development, and more. Interns are attached to this structure and contribute to live policy research and analysis rather than generic office tasks.
The work is intellectual and writing-heavy: reading widely, making sense of evidence, and helping turn it into notes, briefs or analysis that feed into policy thinking. Because interns are placed across very different teams, no two internships look exactly alike — an economics placement and a health placement can involve quite different day-to-day work. The official portal describes the current areas and how placements are decided, so use it to understand where you might fit.
Policy research at a think-tank generally blends desk research, data work and clear writing. In a role like this, interns often:
Depending on your vertical, the subject matter might touch economics, health, agriculture, infrastructure, social development or data and analytics. Interns in a setting like this usually sharpen their research writing, their comfort with data, and their understanding of how evidence becomes policy — and often see how different ministries and stakeholders interact, perspective that is hard to get elsewhere. For the exact remit of a given placement, check the official portal and your assigned division.
The scheme is open to students and researchers from recognised universities and institutions in India or abroad:
A strong academic record is required. The exact marks criteria are set out on the official portal, so check them against your own transcript before applying rather than assuming a cut-off. Beyond grades, a real interest in public policy and an ability to read, analyse and write clearly go a long way — these are the muscles the internship actually exercises.
A certificate from the government's apex policy body carries real weight on a CV, so the attendance requirement is worth taking seriously from day one. Because the role is Delhi-based, plan for travel, accommodation and living costs; any specific arrangements are best confirmed on the official portal.
Applications are made online only, on a rolling basis, through the official NITI Aayog portal. There is a fixed monthly window:
Some general good practice applies here:
Jobsii curates opportunities and links to the official page; applications are handled entirely on NITI Aayog's official portal. Details such as eligibility, dates and placement areas can change, so always review the official page before applying. This is an unpaid internship — and, as with any genuine opportunity, you should never pay to apply.
Review the role details, deadline, and work mode before applying. Jobsii tracks the apply action so candidates can keep application history inside their dashboard.
