High school is often the time when you start thinking about your future in terms of what subjects excite you, what careers appeal to you, and what skills you want to develop. Internships offer a unique opportunity to explore these questions firsthand. By interning, you gain exposure to real-world work environments, develop practical skills, and understand how classroom knowledge translates into professional settings. Beyond skill-building, internships help you form valuable connections, enhance your college applications, and clarify your academic and career goals long before you graduate.
Why you should consider interning in India?
Interning in India allows you to experience the country’s diverse professional landscape while staying close to home. From government organizations and top universities to NGOs, research institutions, and private enterprises, India offers a wide array of internships across disciplines. These programs often blend hands-on experience with mentorship, giving you a front-row seat to industries like science, technology, journalism, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Interning locally also helps you understand India’s unique social, cultural, and economic context, preparing you to navigate both national and global challenges effectively.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of 15 Internships for high school students in India for you to explore. If you’re interested in other opportunities, check out our blogs on 15 Online Camps for High School Students and 15 Political Science Summer Internships for High School Students.
15 Internships for High School Students in India
1. YUVIKA – Young Scientist Programme (ISRO)
Location: Multiple ISRO centres across India (including Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Sriharikota, Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun, Shillong)
Cost/Stipend: Free (travel reimbursed up to II AC train fare; lodging, boarding, and course materials covered by ISRO)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / 300–350 students nationwide, with representation from every State and UT
Dates: May 19 – 30 (residential)
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Students studying in Class 9 (as of January 1) within India
YUVIKA (YUva VIgyani KAryakram) is ISRO’s flagship residential program designed to introduce you to space science, space technology, and real-world space applications at an early academic stage. Over two intensive weeks, you will engage in classroom lectures and hands-on activities, including model rocketry, basic robotic coding experiments, sky-gazing, CANSAT demonstrations, and facility visits at active ISRO centres. The program places strong emphasis on experiential learning, allowing you to understand how concepts from mathematics and science translate into real aerospace systems. Selection is merit-based, factoring in academic performance, quizzes, Olympiads, science fairs, and rural representation to ensure national diversity. Beyond technical exposure, you also interact directly with ISRO scientists, gaining insight into research careers in STEM and India’s space ecosystem.
2. INSPIRE Programme – Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India
Location: Pan-India (internships and camps hosted at leading research institutes and universities across India)
Cost/Stipend: Free; INSPIRE Awards of ₹5,000 (SEATS – Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent) and fully funded internships/scholarships, depending on the component
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective/large national pool (up to 1 million awards under SEATS; 50,000 students for INSPIRE Internships annually)
Dates: Varies by component (applications and camps typically announced annually)
Application Deadline: Announced annually on the INSPIRE portal
Eligibility: SEATS: Students in Classes VI–X (ages 10–15); INSPIRE Internship: Class XI students pursuing science
The INSPIRE Programme is a long-term national initiative by the Department of Science & Technology aimed at identifying and nurturing scientific talent from school level onward. For high school students, the most relevant component is SEATS, which recognizes strong aptitude in science through INSPIRE Awards and offers selected Class XI students the opportunity to attend INSPIRE Internships—immersive science camps hosted at premier research institutions. Through lectures, lab exposure, and interactions with leading scientists, you gain early insight into how research in basic and natural sciences actually works. The program is structured to reward curiosity, academic consistency, and sustained engagement with science rather than short-term competition performance. INSPIRE is widely regarded as one of India’s most prestigious government-backed science initiatives and serves as a strong foundation for students considering long-term research careers in STEM.
3. National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC)
Location: Pan-India (District, State, and National levels; National Congress and Indian Science Congress venues vary annually)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / Thousands participate nationwide; limited projects advance to state and national levels
Dates: Annual cycle (project work mid-year; National Congress typically late December)
Application Deadline: Varies by state and district (registrations usually open mid-year)
Eligibility: Students aged 10–17 (school-going and out-of-school children across India)
The National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) is a flagship science initiative by the Department of Science & Technology that encourages young students to investigate real-world problems using scientific methods. Instead of traditional classroom learning, you work on a year-long, theme-based project rooted in local issues—ranging from environmental challenges to public health and technology solutions. Projects progress through district and state-level congresses, with selected teams presenting at the National Children’s Science Congress and, in some cases, the Kishor Vaigyanik Sammelan held alongside the Indian Science Congress. The program emphasizes fieldwork, experimentation, data collection, and research documentation, helping you develop core skills in scientific inquiry and problem-solving. High-performing projects may also receive access to national and international platforms such as the Intel Science and Technology Discovery Fair (ISTDF), making NCSC one of the most respected research-oriented science programs for high school students in India.
4. Aspire India Scholars Programme (AISP)
Location: O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana (NCR)
Cost/Stipend: ₹41,300 (₹35,000 + GST) / No stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Cohort size not publicly specified
Dates: June 8 – 15 (7-day residential program)
Application Deadline: Rolling (until seats are filled)
Eligibility: High school students preparing to transition to undergraduate study
The Aspire India Scholars Programme (AISP) is a short-term residential summer program designed to help you explore academic interests and career pathways before college. Over seven days on JGU’s campus, you engage in interdisciplinary thematic workshops led by university faculty, where a single issue is examined from multiple academic perspectives. The program also includes skill-based workshops—such as digital media, marketing, and content creation—allowing you to choose areas aligned with your interests. Through structured career sessions, you interact with recent graduates and young professionals who share insights into both traditional and non-traditional career paths. You also complete a project that applies what you’ve learned, culminating in a final presentation to faculty and peers, making AISP a guided introduction to university-style learning and self-directed exploration.
5. Ashoka Young Scholars Programme (YSP)
Location: Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana (NCR)
Cost/Stipend: Paid program / No stipend (fee varies by edition; financial aid typically available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Edition 1: May 18 – 29; Edition 2: June 1 – 12
Application Deadline: Early deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 9–12
The Ashoka Young Scholars Programme (YSP) is a residential summer program that introduces you to a liberal arts and sciences education at the university level. Over two intensive weeks, you explore interdisciplinary streams spanning areas such as science, economics, psychology, AI, international relations, public policy, and design thinking, allowing you to see how different fields intersect and inform one another. The curriculum emphasizes discussion-based learning, hands-on activities, and analytical writing, mirroring the academic style of a top undergraduate program. You learn directly from Ashoka University faculty and engage with visiting industry leaders and public intellectuals, gaining exposure to both academic inquiry and real-world applications. By the end of the program, you leave with sharper critical thinking skills, broader academic perspectives, and a clearer sense of how your interests might translate into future college and career paths.
6. Amity University Summer School (AUSS)
Location: Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Cost/Stipend: ₹30,000 (fully residential; includes hostel and meals) / No stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective / Cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 – 12
Application Deadline: Rolling (until seats are filled)
Eligibility: Students in Classes 10, 11, 12, and Class 12 graduates
Amity University Summer School (AUSS) is a short-term residential program designed to give you early exposure to university-level academics and campus life. Over nearly two weeks, you explore multiple disciplines such as science, management, communication, journalism, photography, and media through lectures, workshops, and lab-based sessions led by university faculty. The program emphasizes informed decision-making by helping you understand how different academic streams translate into real career roles, rather than committing without questioning at the undergraduate level. Alongside academics, you participate in skill-building modules focused on communication, teamwork, and interpersonal development. Staying on campus allows you to experience a full university environment, including academic facilities, libraries, labs, and sports infrastructure, while collaborating with peers from across India.
7. The Caravan Internship Programmes
Location: The Caravan office, New Delhi
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend amount not publicly disclosed)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Rolling start dates; duration ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on the role
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to students, recent graduates, and young professionals; no specific education level specified
The Caravan offers full-time internships that place you directly inside the production workflow of one of India’s most respected long-form journalism magazines. You work closely with editorial, design, research, social media, video, business, or fact-checking teams, depending on the programme, and contribute meaningfully to the magazine’s publishing process. Internships are immersive and demanding, running Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm, and require a serious time commitment. Over the course of the internship, you gain firsthand exposure to how narrative journalism is researched, edited, produced, marketed, and distributed. The environment is best suited for highly motivated students who are comfortable with responsibility and tight deadlines. While competitive, the experience is widely regarded as strong CV capital for students interested in journalism, media, and publishing careers.
8. WWF–India Internship Programme
Location: WWF–India Office, New Delhi
Cost/Stipend: Paid for non-academic interns; unpaid if completed as part of an academic requirement
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Program Dates: Internships run twice a year (February and October); duration ranges from 1 to 6 months
Application Deadline: February and October cycles
Eligibility: Higher-education students preferred, but other interested students can apply
WWF–India’s internship programme offers you the chance to work closely with conservation projects of national and global importance. You contribute to ongoing initiatives related to wildlife conservation, climate change, environmental education, and sustainability, often in collaboration with government bodies, NGOs, schools, and research institutions. Intern responsibilities vary by department but typically involve project support, research assistance, documentation, and coordination with partner organizations. The programme is best suited for students who want hands-on exposure to environmental policy and conservation work rather than purely academic study. Internships are structured but flexible in duration, making them accessible alongside academic schedules. Upon satisfactory completion, you receive an official internship certificate from WWF–India.
9. Techfest Workshops and Internships, IIT Bombay
Location: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai
Cost/Stipend: Paid workshops
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open festival; select competitions/workshops have limited seats
Dates: Usually 3 days in December
Application Deadline: Varies by competition/workshop (typically November – December)
Eligibility: Open to college students, school students (for select events), and the general public
Techfest is IIT Bombay’s flagship annual science and technology festival and one of the largest of its kind in Asia. Over three packed days, you explore innovation through robotics, AI, aerospace, sustainability, and emerging technologies via competitions, workshops, exhibitions, and lectures. You can participate in high-stakes technical contests like Robowars, drone challenges, and innovation hackathons, or attend hands-on workshops in areas such as AI, machine learning, IoT, Web 3.0, and cybersecurity, often led by industry professionals. The lecture series brings in global tech leaders, researchers, and public intellectuals, while exhibitions showcase cutting-edge humanoids, robotics, and space technology. You can also look out for NextGen@IIT Bombay, a short residential, hands-on program hosted by the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, designed for school students (typically Grades 8–11) and focused on early exposure to technology, innovation, and campus life through guided workshops and lab-based learning.
10. MANASVI: STEM Mentorship Programme for High School Girls (IIT Delhi)
Location: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi
Cost/Stipend: Free (fully funded)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 100 students per cohort (school-nominated)
Program Dates: Multi-phase across the year (typically May, September – October, December)
Application Timeline: Applications open February – March
Eligibility: Girls in Classes 9 and 11 (science stream); upcoming edition focused entirely on government-school students
MANASVI is a flagship STEM mentorship initiative by IIT Delhi designed to support high school girls in exploring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through sustained, hands-on engagement. You take part in a multi-phase program spread across the year, combining lab experiments, basic coding, engineering design, and real-world problem-solving. Activities have included building solar cars, SOS systems, simple robots, and renewable-energy prototypes. Alongside technical work, you receive mentorship, exposure to IIT Delhi’s academic environment, and interactions with scientists and STEM professionals. The program is structured to build confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging in STEM rather than focusing only on academic performance.
11. YLAC Artivist Fellowship
Location: Hybrid (Delhi) and fully online options
Cost/Stipend: ₹12,000 + 18% GST (need-based scholarships covering 50–100% available)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Multiple small cohorts; teams of 4–5 fellows
Program Dates: October 5 – November 16 (6 weeks, includes Diwali break)
Application Deadline: Scholarships: June 29 | Final deadline: August 3
Eligibility: High school–age students and creative teenagers interested in art, advocacy, and social change
The YLAC Artivist Fellowship is a six-week advocacy and creative leadership program where you use art as a tool for social change. You work in small teams on one assigned theme—Climate Justice, Disability Rights, or Gender Justice—and design awareness campaigns that may include visual art, writing, music, or digital storytelling. The fellowship combines weekend workshops with midweek mentorship check-ins and requires about 15 hours of commitment per week. You collaborate with peers to plan and execute local or online campaigns, often engaging schools or community spaces. Offered in hybrid and fully online formats, the program is designed to run alongside regular school schedules while emphasizing applied advocacy, teamwork, and public engagement.
12. High School Achievers (HSA) Program
Location: Selected venues in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata; More info here
Cost/Stipend: ₹14,000 + 18% GST (need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Highly selective; small, discussion-driven cohorts
Program Dates: Bengaluru: May 3 – 10; Kolkata: May 31 – June 7; Delhi: June 7 – 14
Application Deadline: Scholarships: March 8; Final deadlines: April 5 (Bengaluru); April 19 (Delhi & Kolkata)
Eligibility: Students in Grades 9–12; no subject prerequisites
The High School Achievers program is an intensive, week-long leadership bootcamp where you examine questions of identity, justice, governance, and social change through a multidisciplinary lens. The curriculum blends discussions, debates, field exposure, and collaborative activities drawing from political science, philosophy, sociology, and economics. You focus on real-world problem-solving, learning how institutions function and how advocacy is built in practice. The program emphasizes critical thinking, group dynamics, and leadership rather than rote academics. Conducted in a non-residential format across three Indian cities, HSA is designed for students interested in public policy, social impact, and civic leadership.
13. IIT Bombay School Outreach Program
Location: IIT Bombay campus (Mumbai) and select outreach formats
Cost/Stipend: Not specified (varies by workshop/program)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Rolling; programs announced periodically
Application Deadline: Not specified (program-specific)
Eligibility: School students in Grades 8–12; select programs may include faculty development
The IIT Bombay School Outreach Program is designed to introduce you to learning that goes beyond textbooks through hands-on workshops and immersive experiences. You engage with interdisciplinary domains, including science, technology, design, animation, theatre arts, and creative problem-solving, combining technical rigor with artistic exploration. The program emphasizes curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking rather than exam-oriented instruction. Alongside skill-building, it aims to create a supportive learning community involving students, educators, and institutions. Offerings are announced periodically and vary in format, duration, and focus, depending on the outreach initiative.
14. Project Pathways Internships by Lend A Hand India
Location: Multiple cities across India (implemented in 10,000+ high schools across 24 states and UTs)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: School-dependent
Program Dates: Flexible; 80+ clock hours (2 weeks full-time or 1 month part-time)
Application Deadline: Rolling (through partner high schools)
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 11–12
Project Pathways introduces you to the world of work through short-term internships with small and micro enterprises located near your school or home. You may intern with local businesses such as retail stores, auto workshops, cafés, bakeries, electrical repair shops, financial services firms, or primary healthcare centers, gaining first-hand exposure to everyday professional environments. The internship focuses on practical, task-based learning rather than classroom instruction, helping you understand workplace expectations and apply your skills. Internships typically run for over 80 hours and can be completed either full-time or part-time during the year. Notably, students—especially girls—have taken up non-traditional roles such as CNC machine programming, elevator maintenance, and electrical work. Participation is coordinated through partner schools working with Lend A Hand India.
15. Symbiosis Summer School
Location: Symbiosis Bhasha Bhavan, Pune, Maharashtra
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 60 students (first-come, first-served)
Program Dates: Dates not specified; typically during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling / First-come, first-served
Eligibility: Students who have appeared for Grades 9–12
The Symbiosis Summer School provides you with an immersive introduction to university life and a wide spectrum of career options after Grade 12. Through workshops and individual guidance sessions, you’ll explore academic streams, study methods, career prospects, and your personal aptitudes. The program covers fields such as Management, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Journalism & Mass Communication, Film & Animation, Liberal Arts, Architecture & Design, Pharmacy, Chartered Accountancy, Armed Forces, Computer Applications / IT, Gaming & App Development, and Hospitality. You’ll engage in practical exercises, discussions with faculty, and exposure to real-world examples from industry experts. The program also addresses critical questions about stream selection, future specializations, career roles, and lifestyle fit, helping you make informed educational and professional decisions. Attendance of at least 80% is required to receive a certificate of completion.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source: Ashoka University