The Research & Development Establishment (Engrs) at Pune has invited applications for 40 paid internship vacancies across Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Computer Science and AI & Data Science streams. The last date is 27th May 2026, and the selected candidates will start their work from 1st July 2026 at Dighi, Pune. Read this article carefully and go through the official notification before applying for DRDO Internship 2026.
Information verified from official R&DE(E), DRDO notification No. RDE/HRD/PDINTERN/2026/01.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary of DRDO R&DE(E) Paid Internship 2026
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation / Employer | Research & Development Establishment (Engrs), Ministry of Defence, DRDO |
| Name of the Post | Paid Intern (UG/PG Engineering) |
| Total Vacancy | 40 |
| Salary / Pay Scale | ₹5,000 per month |
| Additional Salary Benefits | Subsidised lunch, tea and snacks at R&DE(E) canteen |
| Application Mode | Online (Google Form) |
| Eligibility | Pursuing 7th/8th sem B.E./B.Tech or 2nd year M.E./M.Tech with minimum 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA |
| Selection Process | Merit-based, no written exam |
| Place of Posting | R&DE(E), Dighi, Pune – 411015 |
| Government / Private / Contract | Government (Time-bound internship) |
| Last Date to apply for DRDO Internship 2026 | 27th May 2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Fresher (Currently pursuing students only) |
| Interview / Exam Date | Date will be intimated to shortlisted candidates by email on 15th June 2026 |
Also Read | DRDO SAO Grade-II Vacancy 2026
About R&DE(E), DRDO
The Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) is a premier system laboratory under DRDO, Ministry of Defence. It develops state-of-the-art defence technologies and engineering systems for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Its work covers research, design, testing, qualification, evaluation and transfer of technology — making it a serious launchpad for any engineering student wanting hands-on defence R&D experience. Official website: www.drdo.gov.in
Important Dates
The application window for the R&DE(E) Paid Internship 2026 is short, late submissions and incomplete forms are rejected without any further communication. Check these dates now
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Application | 27th May 2026 |
| Information to Shortlisted Students (by Email) | 15th June 2026 |
| Date of Joining / Start of Internship | 1st July 2026 |
Vacancy Details & Salary
The internship is open across three engineering streams, with a total of 40 vacancies on offer. Here’s the breakdown of posts, total vacancy and salary for your reference.
| Branch Code | Branch / Discipline | Total Vacancy | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| ME/CE | Mechanical / Civil | 10 | ₹5,000 per month |
| EE/ECS&IN | Electrical / Electronics / Instrumentation | 15 | ₹5,000 per month |
| CS/AI&DS | Computer Science / Artificial Intelligence | 15 | ₹5,000 per month |
| — | Total | 40 | — |
Additionally, the total stipend of ₹30,000 for six months is released in two installments — ₹15,000 after 03 months and ₹15,000 after 06 months. M.Tech candidates serve an 11-month tenure, however the stipend is paid only for the first 6 months. Also note — the number of vacancies is indicative and may increase or decrease at the discretion of the establishment.
Eligibility Criteria – R&DE(E) Pune internship application
The eligibility criteria for the DRDO R&DE(E) Paid Internship 2026 include education and academic performance requirements. Candidates should make sure they meet all the conditions before applying.
Educational Qualification
- Pursuing full-time Under-Graduation in Engineering Degree (7th or 8th semester) in the respective discipline, OR
- Pursuing full-time Post-Graduation in Engineering Degree (2nd year — M.E./M.Tech) in the respective discipline.
- The course must be from a recognised Indian University, College or Institute approved by AICTE/UGC.
- Minimum 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA on a scale of 10 (cumulative of all previous semesters).
- Important — applications submitted based on SGPA score will be disqualified. Only CGPA or aggregate percentage is accepted.
- A referral letter from the Principal or Director of the institute is mandatory. Colleges should recommend only highly deserving meritorious students.
Selection Process
There is no written test for this internship. The selection is purely merit-based, so your academic record does the talking. Shortlisted students are notified by email about the joining procedures — rejected candidates do not receive any communication.
- Merit-based shortlisting (based on CGPA / aggregate percentage)
- Email notification to shortlisted students on 15th June 2026
- Document verification at the time of joining
A practical insight — at the time of joining, you must carry a No Objection Certificate from your college, police verification acknowledgement, medical fitness certificate from at least an MBBS-degree doctor, original Aadhar card, college ID, all previous semester marksheets in original, and 3 passport-size photographs. Selected candidates also sign an undertaking for adherence to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923. Keep these documents ready in advance — anyone joining without them will face issues.
Application Fee
Application fee details are not mentioned in the official notification. Candidates are advised to check the official website for any updates.
DRDO R&DE(E) Paid Internship 2026 Application Guidelines
How to apply for DRDO internship 2026 ?
To apply for the DRDO Internship 2026, fill the official Google Form at https://forms.gle/sst2cLv7Z45mi4ZRA before 27th May 2026. Attach your Principal’s referral letter, all previous semester marksheets, Aadhar card and college ID card.
Application is accepted only through the Google Form — no hard copy submission is allowed. Follow the steps below to apply.
- Visit the official DRDO careers page at www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/careers and download the advertisement along with enclosures.
- Fill the prescribed application format with your details — name, date of birth, Aadhar number, college details, discipline, branch code, semester/year and CGPA.
- Obtain the mandatory referral letter from the Dean or Principal of your college on the official letterhead — this letter format is included in the notification PDF.
- Keep digital copies of your marksheets of all previous semesters, latest Aadhar card and college ID card ready.
- Open the Google Form link: https://forms.gle/sst2cLv7Z45mi4ZRA (Direct link provided in the important link section at the bottom of this article)
- Fill all the required fields and upload your documents.
- Submit the form before 27th May 2026. Incomplete or late applications will be rejected without further communication.
Important Links
Candidates applying for the R&DE(E) Paid Internship 2026 are advised to visit the important links below for the official PDF and application form:
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Download Official Notification PDF |
| Apply Online (Google Form) | Apply Online Here |
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Should You Apply for DRDO paid internship 2026 for engineering students?
Final-year B.E./B.Tech and 2nd year M.E./M.Tech students with strong academics should apply for the Paid Intern vacancies at R&DE(E), DRDO to gain real defence R&D exposure at a ₹5,000 monthly stipend. With only 40 vacancies, a 75% / 7.5 CGPA cut-off, and a Principal’s referral letter mandatory, competition will favour students with consistent top-grade records. Defence labs are increasingly preferring AI & DS and embedded systems profiles — those streams have an edge this year.
FAQs — DRDO Paid Internship 2026 | R&DE(E) Engineering Students Form
Q1 .Is hostel or accommodation provided by R&DE(E) during the internship?
No, R&DE(E) does not provide any boarding or lodging facility. Selected candidates must arrange their own stay near Dighi, Pune. However, the canteen at R&DE(E) provides subsidised lunch, tea and snacks for interns during working hours.
Q2. Will I get a job at DRDO after completing this internship?
No. R&DE(E) and DRDO have no obligation to offer employment to interns, and interns cannot claim any right to employment after completion. The internship is purely for learning, project exposure and award of a completion certificate.
Q3. What happens if I leave the internship in between?
If a student is unable to complete the project work or internship and leaves before the tenure ends, the Certificate of Completion will not be issued. Acceptance of the project by the guide and submission of the final project report are mandatory for the certificate.
Q4. Can students from SGPA-based universities apply for this internship?
No, applications submitted based on SGPA scores will be disqualified. Only candidates with CGPA on a scale of 10 (minimum 7.5) or aggregate percentage of marks (minimum 75%) across all previous semesters are eligible. Convert your SGPA to CGPA before applying.
Q5. Is physical attendance mandatory at R&DE(E) during the internship?
Yes, a minimum of 15 working days per month of physical attendance at R&DE(E), Dighi, Pune is mandatory. Stipend retention also depends on good project performance. Remote or hybrid internship is not allowed under this scheme.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more