DRDO DRDL Paid Internship 2026; 165 Posts, ₹5,000 Stipend, Apply Offline OPEN

DRDO DRDL Paid Internship 2026 — Overview

Important Dates 2026

• Notification Published Date: 07 August 2026
• Application Start Date: 07 August 2026
• Last Date for Filling Applications: 16 August 2026
• Information to Selected Candidates for Interview: 23 August 2026 (Tentative)
• Date of Start of Internship: 01 September 2026 (Tentative)

Note: All dates beyond the application closing date are tentative, as explicitly stated in the notification. Interview date/venue will be communicated to shortlisted candidates only, via phone call and on the DRDO website — rejected candidates will NOT receive any communication.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an Indian citizen
• Pursuing final year of Undergraduate Engineering (B.E./B.Tech), OR
• Pursuing final year of Postgraduate Engineering or Physical Science (M.E./M.Tech/M.Sc)
• Full-time course only, from a recognized Indian University/Institute approved by AICTE/UGC
• Minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in the pursuing course (CGPA to be converted to percentage — average of all completed semesters/years)
• A referral/request letter from the Principal/Director of the institution is mandatory — only highly deserving, meritorious students should be recommended

Age Limit

• Maximum Age: Below 28 years

No age relaxation for any category is mentioned in the official notification.

Branch-Wise Vacancy & Discipline Details

Selection Process 2026

• Selection is entirely merit-based — on academic track record (% marks/CGPA converted to percentage)
• Eligible candidates may be shortlisted based on Interaction/Interview and their percentage marks
• Shortlisted students only will be notified — about joining procedures, undertaking forms, and indemnity bond requirements
• Shortlisted candidates must bring a Character Certificate from their college and a Police Verification Certificate at the time of interview/joining
• No communication will be sent to rejected/non-shortlisted candidates
• DRDL/ASL/CAS reserves the right to change vacancy positions or selection criteria at any stage without assigning any reason

Stipend, Payment Terms & Facilities

• Stipend: ₹5,000/- per month, payable directly into the student’s bank account
• Stipend is applicable ONLY if the student maintains good performance and completes a minimum of 15 working days per month of physical attendance at DRDL/ASL/CAS
• Payment is made in two installments — the first installment is released after 3 months of training
• If a student leaves the internship before completing a minimum 3-month tenure, no stipend payment will be made and no Completion Certificate will be issued
• No boarding or lodging expenses are admissible — candidates must arrange their own stay and transport in Hyderabad
• Subsidized lunch, tea, and snacks are available at the DRDL/ASL/CAS wet-canteen
• A Completion Certificate is awarded only after successful completion of the full 6-month internship, evaluation of project work, and submission of the project report

How to Apply for DRDL Paid Internship 2026

• Download the prescribed application form from the official notification (format included at the end of the notification PDF)
• Fill in all details — Name, DOB, Aadhaar Number, College details, Discipline, Branch Code, Degree/Semester, % Marks/CGPA, Achievements, Languages Known, Contact details
• Attach a mandatory referral letter from the Principal/Director of your College/Institute (printed on college letterhead, with office seal)
• Affix a recent passport-size photograph on the application form
• Submit the application by hand-delivery in a sealed envelope — clearly write “Application for Paid Internship” and mention the relevant Branch Code (EE/ME/PH/CS) on the envelope for easy segregation
• Additionally, forward a scanned copy of the complete application to: drdlintern2026@gmail.com
• Ensure the application (and its scanned copy) reaches before the last date — 16 August 2026

Important: The Principal/Director referral letter is mandatory — applications without it are unlikely to be considered, since the notification explicitly asks institutions to recommend only “highly deserving, meritorious students.”

Documents Required at the Time of Joining (If Selected)

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from college authorities — in original, on college letterhead, confirming the student will be relieved for internship and will maintain minimum 15 working days/month attendance
• Police verification from local police station — acknowledgement receipt to be submitted at joining
• Undertaking for adherence to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923
• Undertaking to follow IT rules and regulations applicable to the Ministry of Defence
• Bank account details for stipend transfer
• Medical fitness certificate from an authorized medical practitioner holding at least an MBBS degree
• Aadhaar Card (original) and College ID card, for verification at joining
• 03 passport-size photographs
• All previous semester marksheets (original) — for on-the-spot verification only; originals are returned immediately after verification
• Indemnity form (provided by the college, as and when required)

Important Terms & Conditions

• DRDL/ASL/CAS has no obligation to offer employment to interns/project students, nor can any intern claim a right to employment based on completing this internship
• The laboratory will not be responsible for any injuries sustained during the internship period
• Candidates should make their own arrangements for stay and transport in Hyderabad — plan for a multi-day stay if needed, as walk-in interviews may see heavy footfall
• Selection is entirely merit-based; management reserves the right to change vacancy positions or selection criteria at any point during the process without giving any reason
• Interview date/venue will be communicated only to shortlisted candidates via phone and on the DRDO website

About DRDL — Why This Internship Matters

The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, is one of DRDO’s most strategically important labs — it leads India’s missile systems research and development for the Armed Forces, working alongside sister establishments Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) and Centre for Advanced Systems (CAS), also based in Hyderabad. Interns here get to work directly on live defence R&D projects across:

• Missile guidance, control, and propulsion systems (Mechanical/Aerospace branch)
• Avionics, radar, and embedded electronics for missile systems (Electronics branch)
• AI/ML, cyber security, and software systems supporting defence platforms (Computer Science branch)
• Applied mathematics and simulation modelling supporting missile trajectory and systems analysis (Mathematics/Physical Science branch)

This kind of hands-on exposure to national missile-technology programs is rare for students and can be a strong addition to a technical resume, even though the laboratory does not guarantee any job offer afterward.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

• Since the college referral letter is mandatory and needs the Principal/Director’s signature and office seal, approach your college placement/academic office right away — don’t wait until a few days before 16 August, as internal college approvals can take time
• Convert your CGPA to percentage yourself (using the average of all completed semesters/years) and double-check it matches what your college will certify — mismatches can cause rejection at verification
• Since selection also involves an Interaction/Interview, be ready to speak about your final-year project or coursework relevant to your chosen Branch Code (EE/ME/PH/CS) — DRDL’s shortlisting favours meritorious, technically prepared students
• Send BOTH the physical application AND the scanned copy to drdlintern2026@gmail.com — missing either one could mean your application isn’t properly registered
• Plan your Hyderabad travel/stay in advance since walk-in interview dates are announced on short notice (tentatively 23 August) only to shortlisted candidates
• Get your Aadhaar card, college ID, and all semester marksheets organized now — these are needed for on-the-spot verification if shortlisted, and missing documents at that stage can cost you the seat

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