Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), released this internship notice on its official channels. As per Advertisement No. DRDL/HRD/INTERNSHIP/2026/01, applications are invited on a walk-in basis, and the last date for filling applications is 16 August 2026 (tentative). This is for final-year engineering and physical science students who want hands-on exposure to missile systems research at a premier defence laboratory.
DRDL is offering 165 paid internship positions across four disciplines, and the discipline-wise breakdown is given below. The internship is for six months and the place of training is DRDL/ASL/CAS, Hyderabad. Candidates should check all details in the article below.
Information verified from the official DRDL notice, Advertisement No. DRDL/HRD/INTERNSHIP/2026/01. Last verified: 8 August 2026.
DRDL Hyderabad is offering 165 paid internship positions for final-year UG engineering students and final-year PG engineering or physical science students, through Advertisement No. DRDL/HRD/INTERNSHIP/2026/01. Selection is through a walk-in interview, and the tentative last date to submit the application is 16 August 2026. The internship runs for six months with a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000, starting tentatively on 1 September 2026.
Quick Summary of DRDO DRDL Internship 2026
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), DRDO, Hyderabad |
| Post | Paid Internship (Engineering/Science UG & PG students) |
| Total Vacancy | 165 (indicative) |
| Stipend | Rs. 5,000 per month |
| Application Mode | Walk-in, with scanned application emailed in advance |
| Eligibility | Final-year UG Engineering or final-year PG Engineering/Physical Science, min. 60% marks or equivalent CGPA |
| Selection Process | Interaction/Interview and percentage marks |
| Place of Posting | DRDL / ASL / CAS, Hyderabad |
| Last Date | 16 August 2026 (tentative) |
| Who Can Apply | Indian citizens pursuing final-year UG/PG in the listed disciplines |
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About Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad is a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It works on the research and development of advanced technologies in missile systems for the Indian Armed Forces. For a student in electronics, mechanical, aerospace, computer science or applied science streams, an internship here means direct exposure to live defence research and development work rather than classroom simulation, under a laboratory that reports to India’s premier defence R&D body.
How This Compares
This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office.
DRDO runs paid internship and project-training programmes across several of its laboratories, not only at DRDL Hyderabad, and most follow a similar pattern: a fixed stipend, a defined tenure, and selection through institutional referral plus an interview rather than a fully online application portal. Compared to internships at private technology companies, a DRDO lab internship generally involves stricter eligibility checks (police verification, an Official Secrets Act undertaking, and a mandatory referral letter from the college) because the work touches defence-related applications. Students weighing this against a private-sector internship should factor in this longer, document-heavy joining process against the value of working inside a national defence research laboratory.
Important Dates
All dates below are tentative, as stated in the notice.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last date for filing of applications | 16 August 2026 |
| Information to selected candidates for interview | 23 August 2026 |
| Date of start of internship | 1 September 2026 |
The notice states that the interview date will be communicated to shortlisted candidates by phone and on the DRDO website, and no communication will be sent to candidates who are not selected.
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Vacancy Details and Stipend for DRDO DRDL Internship 2026
DRDL has listed 165 internship positions across four branch codes. The notice states that these numbers are indicative and may increase or decrease at the discretion of the establishment.
| Branch Code | Branch / Discipline | No. of Vacancies | Monthly Stipend | Duration | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | Engineering – Electronics, Electronics and Communication Engineering / Electronics & Instrumentation / Electrical Engineering | 58 | Rs. 5,000 | 6 Months | DRDL / ASL / CAS, Hyderabad |
| ME | Engineering – Mechanical / Chemical / Aerospace / Production / Material / Safety / Textile Technology | 87 | Rs. 5,000 | 6 Months | DRDL / ASL / CAS, Hyderabad |
| PH | Mathematics and Allied Science | 5 | Rs. 5,000 | 6 Months | DRDL / ASL / CAS, Hyderabad |
| CS | Computer Science and Engineering (CSE, AI, Cyber Security & Allied) | 15 | Rs. 5,000 | 6 Months | DRDL / ASL / CAS, Hyderabad |
| Total | 165 |
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Eligibility
The notice sets one common academic standard, applied to the discipline the candidate is pursuing:
- Candidates must be pursuing a final-year Undergraduate degree in Engineering, or a final-year Postgraduate degree in Engineering or Physical Science, as a full-time course from a recognised Indian university or institute, in a discipline matching one of the four branch codes above.
- Minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in persued degree, from an AICTE/UGC-approved university. Where CGPA is used, it is converted to a percentage as the average of completed semesters or years.
- Age limit: below 28 years.
- Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- A referral/request letter from the Principal or Director of the college or institution is mandatory, recommending “highly deserving meritorious students only.” A format for this letter, to be printed on the college letterhead, is included with the notice.
Selection Process
Selection is entirely on merit. The notice lists these stages:
- Screening of applications and the mandatory college referral letter.
- Shortlisting based on academic record (minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA) and Interaction/Interview.
- Shortlisted candidates are informed by phone and through the DRDO website; the notice states that no communication will be made to candidates who are not selected.
- Document verification and joining formalities at DRDL/ASL/CAS, Hyderabad, including submission of original marksheets for on-the-spot verification (returned immediately after checking).
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How to Apply for DRDO DRDL Internship
The notice describes a walk-in process rather than a fully online application:
- Fill the application in the format given with the notice, and get the mandatory referral letter from the Principal/Director of the college, printed on the college letterhead.
- Submit the filled application in an envelope at the registration desk during the walk-in, clearly marking the envelope “Application for Paid Internship” and mentioning the Branch Code (EE/ME/PH/CS).
- Forward a scanned copy of the same application to drdlintern2026@gmail.com.
- Wait for intimation of the interview date, which will be communicated by phone and published on the DRDO website to shortlisted candidates only.
Documents to keep ready (at the time of joining, if selected):
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the college, in original, on letterhead
- Police verification acknowledgement from the local police station
- Undertaking for adherence to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923
- Undertaking on IT rules applicable to the Ministry of Defence
- Bank account details for stipend transfer
- Medical fitness certificate from a practitioner holding at least an MBBS degree
- Aadhaar card (original) and college ID card, for verification
- 3 passport-size photographs
- All previous semester marksheets, in original, for on-the-spot verification
- Indemnity form, as provided by the college
Important Links
- Official DRDL Internship Notification (PDF)
- Apply by walk-in and email at drdlintern2026@gmail.com — not mentioned in the official notification as an online application portal
- More internship openings on India Job Alerts
- Latest government and private jobs across India
- More B.Tech-eligible openings
Should You Apply?
This internship suits final-year engineering students in electronics, mechanical, aerospace and allied streams, final-year physical science postgraduates, and computer science students with an interest in AI or cyber security, who want direct exposure to missile systems research inside a DRDO laboratory. It does not suit students who need a fully remote or self-paced internship, since attendance of at least 15 working days a month at Hyderabad is required for the stipend to apply, and boarding and lodging are not provided. Competition is likely to be significant given DRDL’s reputation, the modest 60% eligibility bar that keeps the applicant pool wide, and the fact that stipend and completion certificate depend on completing a minimum three-month tenure. The honest trade-off: the stipend of Rs. 5,000 a month is modest for students who must arrange their own stay and transport in Hyderabad, but the internship offers a certificate from a premier national defence laboratory and real project work rather than a classroom-style training programme. There is no promise of employment at the end of the internship, as the notice states clearly.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for the DRDL Hyderabad internship 2026?
The tentative last date for filing applications is 16 August 2026, as per Advertisement No. DRDL/HRD/INTERNSHIP/2026/01. All dates in the notice are marked tentative.
What is the stipend for the DRDL internship 2026?
The monthly stipend is Rs. 5,000 for all branches (EE, ME, PH and CS). It is paid in two installments, and the stipend for a given month depends on completing a minimum of 15 working days of physical attendance that month.
Who is eligible for the DRDL paid internship?
Final-year UG Engineering students and final-year PG students in Engineering or Physical Science, with at least 60% marks or equivalent CGPA and age below 28 years, are eligible. A mandatory referral letter from the college Principal or Director is also required.
How is DRDL internship selection different from a normal government job recruitment?
This is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office. Unlike most government recruitment on this site, this internship has no written exam. Selection is through a mandatory college referral, an Interaction/Interview, and the candidate’s percentage marks, followed by a walk-in submission of documents rather than a fully online application.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Sandeep Khati, the founder of India Job Alerts. I hold a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). My career began as a Systems Engineer at TCS, and I have been active in the digital publishing space since 2011, starting with the launch of SearchDarjeeling.com and my work as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics.
Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is my most focused project to date. I am dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for candidates in West Bengal, Sikkim, and across India. To guarantee accuracy, I personally cross-check every post against official notifications before publishing. Know more