DRDO NSTL Paid Internship 2026 — 35 Vacancies

DRDO NSTL has released notification for 35 Paid Internship positions at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam. Students pursuing final year B.E./B.Tech or second year M.Sc can apply via email. Last date to apply is 23 March 2026. Selected interns will receive a stipend of Rs. 5,000 per month for 6 months.

DRDO NSTL Paid Internship Recruitment 2026 - 35 Posts

Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a premier establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), works on underwater technologies for the Indian Navy. NSTL has invited applications from eligible engineering and science students for a 6-month paid internship at their Visakhapatnam facility. There are 35 positions spread across 9 different disciplines, covering engineering branches like Computer Science, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, and science streams like Physics and Chemistry. This is a great hands-on opportunity for students who want real-world experience in defence research.

Vacancy Breakdown by Discipline

• Computer Science / Information Technology (CS): 8 posts
• Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE): 6 posts
• Mechanical Engineering (ME): 5 posts
• Electrical Engineering (EE): 4 posts
• Chemical Engineering (CE): 3 posts
• Naval Architecture (NA): 3 posts
• Electronics and Instrumentation (E&I): 2 posts
• M.Sc Physics (PH): 2 posts
• M.Sc Chemistry (CH): 2 posts

Who Can Apply?

For B.E./B.Tech Students:

• You must be in the final year of your B.E./B.Tech degree.
• You need a minimum CGPA of 7.5 (on a scale of 10) across all previous semesters.
• Your college must be approved by AICTE.

For M.Sc Students:

• You must be in the 2nd year (3rd or 4th Semester) of your M.Sc programme.
• You need a minimum of 75% marks in your 1st year exam.
• Your university must be approved by UGC.

Note: No equivalent qualifications will be considered. You must be enrolled full-time in the respective discipline.

Age Limit

• Maximum age: Below 25 years (as on 01 May 2026).

Stipend

• Selected interns will receive Rs. 5,000 per month for 6 months.
• Stipend is paid in two installments -- first after 3 months, second after completing the full 6 months.
• You must be present at the lab for a minimum of 15 working days per month to be eligible for the stipend.
• Payment will be made directly to your bank account.
• No boarding or lodging expenses are provided during the internship.

Application Fee

• No application fee is required for this internship.

Selection Process

Selection will be done in 2 stages:

1. Merit-Based Shortlisting: Your academic performance (CGPA or percentage) will be used to create a shortlist of candidates.
2. Interview (Online/Offline): Shortlisted candidates will appear for an interview or interaction conducted by a selection committee at NSTL. This will assess your technical knowledge, aptitude, and motivation.

Selection is entirely on merit. There will be no communication regarding rejected applications.

How to Apply

1. Download the application form from the official DRDO notification (Advertisement No. NSTL/HRD/INT/2026/2).
2. Fill in the application form completely in the prescribed format.
3. Prepare your documents: marksheets, Aadhaar card copy, college reference letter, and a brief bio-data (under 300 words).
4. Scan all documents and the filled application form.
5. Send everything in a single email to intern-hrd@gov.in.
6. Use the email subject: "Application for paid internship with [your branch code]" (e.g., CS, ME, ECE).
7. Submit before 23 March 2026, 5:00 PM. Late emails will not be considered.

Note: Only email applications are accepted. No hard copies will be considered.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 09 March 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 23 March 2026 (5:00 PM)
• Intimation to Selected Students: 2nd Week of April 2026
• Internship Start Date: 01 May 2026

• Work on assigned research projects under the guidance of NSTL scientists
• Assist in designing, testing, and developing underwater technology systems
• Prepare technical reports and presentations on project progress
• Follow all lab safety protocols and security guidelines of the establishment
• Attend project review meetings and contribute to team discussions
• Maintain detailed records of experiments, data, and findings
• Complete the project evaluation and submit a final project report before the internship ends