DRDO NPOL Paid Internship 2026: Apply for 35 Posts | Computer Science, ECE, Mechanical & More | Last Date 15 June 2026
DRDO’s Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi has released a golden opportunity for final-year engineering and science students! Under the DRDO Paid Internship Scheme 2026, NPOL is inviting applications for 35 tentative internship seats across 6 disciplines. Selected interns will work at one of India’s premier defence research labs and receive a stipend of ₹30,000. The internship starts 1st July 2026, and the last date to apply is 15 June 2026 — so act fast!
🏢 Organization Details
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) |
| Parent Organization | DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India |
| Advertisement No. | NPOL/A/PIS/6/2026 |
| Job Location | Thrikkakkara, Kochi – 682 021, Kerala |
| Official Website | drdo.gov.in |
Nopol is ISO 9001:2015 certified and an elite DRDO laboratory that focuses on underwater sensors and oceanography technologies for use by the Indian Navy. The internship at Nopol will expose you to some of the best defence technologies used in India today – great addition to your resume. It is perfect for any student who is interested in pursuing his career in science.
📊 Number of Vacancies
| Sl. No. | Discipline | Vacancies (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science / AI & ML / Data Science | 12 |
| 2 | Electronics & Communication / Electrical & Electronics / Instrumentation Engineering | 10 |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering | 05 |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering / Polymer Science or Technology | 04 |
| 5 | Physics / Opto Electronics | 02 |
| 6 | Ocean Science / Ocean Technology | 02 |
| Total | 35 |
⚠️ Note: Vacancies are tentative. NPOL reserves the right to change vacancy positions without prior notice.
The above-mentioned 35 seats are distributed among Technical & Science streams to provide equal opportunities to all students. The competition level will be tough, particularly for CSE/AI (12 seats) & ECE (10 seats). Apply early and secure good academic scores.
🎓 Educational Qualification
- Students must be enrolled in a full-time UG or PG program in the relevant discipline.
- The institution must be AICTE/UGC recognized.
- Applicants must be in the final year of their course.
- The 6-month internship/project must be a mandatory part of the course curriculum.
Only bonafide final-year students whose curriculum officially includes a 6-month project/internship component are eligible. Students from private or government colleges are both eligible, as long as the institute is AICTE/UGC approved. Make sure your Head of Institution/Principal can certify your eligibility through the required endorsement letter.
📉 Minimum Qualifying Marks
- Candidates must have secured at least 75% marks or ≥ 7.5 CGPA/SGPA up to the previous year/semester.
- This is a strict academic benchmark — below this threshold, applications will not be considered.
A 75% cutoff is necessary to select the best students for DRDO internships. This means that those students with excellent academic performances have an advantage while short listing. In case you are near the cutoff point, ensure your mark sheets show your grades.
🎂 Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum Age | 28 years as on the closing date (15 June 2026) |
| Age Relaxation | Not mentioned in the notification |
For majority of the last year UG/PG students, the above-mentioned upper age limit of 28 years is easily fulfilled. As no relaxation in respect of age for any category has been mentioned in the notification, all the candidates including SC/ST/OBC should have an age below 28 years by 15th June 20
💰 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Candidates | NIL (No Fee) |
The most interesting thing about this internship is that there is absolutely no application fee involved, thus making it available to every eligible candidate irrespective of their financial standing. All you need to do is just fill out the form, obtain an institute endorsement letter, and send it in.
💰 Stipend Details
| Installment | Amount | When Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Installment | ₹15,000 | After completing 3 months |
| 2nd Installment | ₹15,000 | After completing 6 months |
| Total Stipend | ₹30,000 | Over 6 months |
⚠️ Important: If the intern leaves before completing the full 6-month period, they will receive no stipend and no completion certificate. There will be no increment during the internship period.
⚙️ Selection Process
- Application Screening – Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness.
- Shortlisting – Based on academic performance (marks/CGPA). If a large number of applications are received, NPOL will shortlist candidates.
- Interaction Round – Shortlisted candidates will be called for interaction either in-person, telephonically, or via Video Conferencing (VC).
- Document Verification – Originals to be submitted at the time of joining.
Selection will be done based on merit. Your GPA would matter the most since there will be no written test. You need to impress the panel during the interaction round for your selection. Candidates not shortlisted will not be communicated with.
📅 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 15 June 2026 |
| Intimation to Selected Students | 4th Week of June 2026 |
| Internship Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Internship End Date | 31 December 2026 (approx.) |
The window is extremely tight — the last date is 15 June 2026, just days away! Don’t wait to arrange your documents. Get your institute’s endorsement letter ready immediately and submit without delay.
📝 How to Apply
Step-by-Step Application Process:
- Download the Application Form – Get Annexure A (Application Form) and Annexure B (Endorsement Letter format) from the official DRDO/NPOL website.
- Fill the Application Form – Fill Annexure A in block letters with all personal and academic details. Paste a recent passport-size photograph.
- Get Institute Endorsement – Get Annexure B filled and signed by your Head of Institution/Principal on the college letterhead with seal.
- Prepare Documents – Self-attested copies of: Government Photo ID, semester/year-wise mark sheets, CV/resume.
- Scan as Single File – Scan the filled Annexure A + Annexure B + all documents into a single PDF file.
- Email Application – Send the scanned file to [email protected] before 15 June 2026.
- Fill Google Form – Also submit your details in the Google Form at: https://tinyurl.com/4jp8t4cc
- (Optional) Send by Speed Post – You may also send a hard copy to: The Director, NPOL (DRDO), Thrikkakara PO, Kochi – 682 021. Envelope must be superscribed: “Application for Paid Internship Scheme – 2026 in the __________ discipline”
Both the email and Google Form submission are mandatory. Incomplete or partially filled applications will be rejected outright. Keep a copy of your sent email for future reference.
📜 General Conditions
- Interns are not entitled to DA, transport, accommodation, CGHS, or any other allowance.
- Only sick leave (with valid medical certificate) is permitted — no other leave.
- Canvassing or personal follow-up to influence selection will lead to immediate cancellation.
- Interns must sign an undertaking to follow the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923 and lab rules.
- This internship does not guarantee any future employment in DRDO.
- Suppression of facts at any stage will lead to disqualification.
- In case of any dispute, the Director, NPOL’s decision is final.
- In case of ambiguity between Hindi and English versions of the notification, the English version prevails.
Read these conditions carefully before applying. DRDO is a defence organization — confidentiality and discipline are non-negotiable. Any attempt to misrepresent qualifications or influence the selection process will result in permanent disqualification.
🔗 Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply via Email | [email protected] |
| Google Form Application | https://tinyurl.com/4jp8t4cc |
| Official DRDO Website | https://www.drdo.gov.in |
| Official Notification | NPOL/A/PIS/6/2026 (available on drdo.gov.in) |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The last date to submit your application (both via email and Google Form) is 15 June 2026. Selected candidates will be intimated in the 4th week of June 2026, and the internship begins on 1st July 2026.
Final-year students enrolled in full-time UG/PG programs in relevant disciplines (CS/AI, ECE, Mechanical, Chemical, Physics, Ocean Science) from AICTE/UGC recognized institutions are eligible. Candidates must be below 28 years of age and must have scored at least 75% or 7.5 CGPA up to the previous semester/year.
Selected interns receive a total stipend of ₹30,000 — paid in two equal installments of ₹15,000 each. The first installment is paid after 3 months and the second after successful completion of 6 months. If the intern leaves before completing 6 months, no stipend or certificate is given.
There is no written exam. Candidates are shortlisted based on their academic performance (marks/CGPA). Shortlisted candidates are then called for an interaction round — either in-person, over phone, or via Video Conference. Final selection is based on the interaction and document verification.
You need to: (1) Fill Annexure A application form, (2) Get Annexure B endorsement letter from your institute’s Head/Principal, (3) Scan both along with required documents into a single file, (4) Email it to [email protected], and (5) Also fill the Google Form at https://tinyurl.com/4jp8t4cc. Both steps are mandatory.
No, there is absolutely no application fee for this internship. All eligible students can apply for free.
No. The internship offer does not confer any right to employment or absorption in DRDO. It is purely a learning and training opportunity. However, it adds significant value to your resume and gives you real-world defence research experience.
⚠️ Disclaimer
The information provided on this post is based on the official DRDO NPOL advertisement (Advt. No. NPOL/A/PIS/6/2026). CurrentOpenings (https://currentopenings.in/) is not responsible for any discrepancy, error, or change in the details mentioned above. Candidates are strongly advised to visit the official DRDO/NPOL website and read the original notification carefully before applying. Always rely on official sources for the most accurate and updated information.
| Advertisement No. | NPOL/A/PIS/6/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 35 |
| Job Type | Internship |
| Apply Date | 05 Jun 2026 — 15 Jun 2026 Live · 6 days left |
| Job Location | 📍 Kochi |
| Official Advertisement | Download PDF |
| Notification Release | June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 15 June 2026 |
| Intimation to Selected Students | 4th Week of June 2026 |
| Internship Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Internship End Date | 31 December 2026 (approx.) |
| Apply Online | Fill Google Form |
| Apply Through Email | [email protected] |
| Join Telegram Channel | |
| Join WhatsApp Channel |
Similar Jobs
LIVENIT Calicut Apprentice Trainee Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 79 Posts (Graduate & Diploma) | Stipend ₹15,000/month | Last Date 12 June 2026
LIVECSIR-NIIST Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 02 MTS Posts | Check Eligibility, Salary & Last Date
LIVEUPSC Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 185+ Posts | Check Eligibility, Salary & Last Date (Advt. No. 05/2026)
LIVESSC CGL Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 12,256 Posts | Check Eligibility, Salary & Last Date
BRO GREF Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 899 Vacancies | Post-wise Details, Eligibility & Salary
Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
LIVENHAI Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 60 Deputy Manager (Technical) Posts via GATE 2026 | Salary ₹56,100 – Check Eligibility & Last Date
