Last updated: September 11, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, Chennai — a laboratory of DRDO under the Ministry of Defence — has invited applications for the Paid Internship Scheme of DRDO for the academic year 2026-27, under Advertisement No. CVRDE/HRD/PAID INTERNSHIP/2026. A total of 35 internship slots are open to final-year B.E/B.Tech students (7th or 8th semester) and M.E/M.Tech students (1st or 2nd year) in Mechanical, Electronics/ECE/E and I, Electrical and Computer Science/AI/ML/IT disciplines. The internship runs for 06 months at CVRDE, Avadi with a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000, and applications must reach CVRDE by post on or before 18.09.2026.
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Recruitment Overview
| Post Name | Paid Internship (Under Graduate and Post Graduate Engineering) — DRDO Paid Internship Scheme 2026-27 |
| Organization | Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | CVRDE/HRD/PAID INTERNSHIP/2026 |
| Location | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, Tamil Nadu |
| Total Vacancies | 35 (Category A — Under Graduate: 15; Category B — Post Graduate: 20) |
| Qualification | Regular B.E/B.Tech student in 7th or 8th semester, or regular M.E/M.Tech student in 1st or 2nd year, in the relevant discipline from an AICTE-approved institution or UGC-approved university |
| Age Limit | Below 28 years as on 01.07.2026 Check your age eligibility → |
| Duration of Internship | 06 months |
| Selection Process | Shortlisting on academic merit → Intimation to selected students by e-mail with joining instructions |
| Stipend | Rs. 5,000 per month for 06 months (Rs. 30,000 in total, released in two slabs of Rs. 15,000) |
| Application Fee | Nil — no fee at any stage |
| How to Apply | Offline only — send the filled application in the prescribed format by Speed Post / Courier / Registered Post to CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website | DRDO Vacancies Portal |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification published on DRDO website | 08.09.2026 |
| Application start date | 08.09.2026 |
| Last date for receipt of application at CVRDE | 18.09.2026 (10 days from the date of publication on the DRDO website) |
| Internship duration | 06 months from the date of joining (academic year 2026-27) |
Note: The notification itself states only that applications must reach CVRDE within 10 days of publication on the DRDO website. The DRDO vacancy portal lists the published date as 08.09.2026 and the closing date as 18.09.2026, which is the date used above.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All categories (General / OBC / EWS / SC / ST / PwBD) | Nil |
| Mode of payment | Not applicable — the notification states no fee is applicable at the time of application or at any stage of the entire internship programme |
Vacancy Details
Category (a): Under Graduate Internship — students in VII / VIII semester of B.E / B.Tech
| Branch Code | Branch / Discipline | Vacancies | Stipend | Duration | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ME | Mechanical Engineering | 07 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| EC | Electronics / Electronics and Communication Engineering / Electronic and Instrumentation Engineering | 05 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | 02 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| CS | Computer Science Engineering / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Information Technology | 01 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| Total — Category (a) | 15 | ||||
Category (b): Post Graduate Internship — students in I / II year of M.E / M.Tech
| Branch Code | Branch / Discipline | Vacancies | Stipend | Duration | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ME | Mechanical Engineering | 12 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| EC | Electronics / Electronics and Communication Engineering / Electronic and Instrumentation Engineering | 05 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | 02 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| CS | Computer Science Engineering / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Information Technology | 01 | Rs. 5,000/month | 06 Months | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| Total — Category (b) | 20 | ||||
| Grand Total (a + b) | 35 | ||||
Note: The number of internship slots mentioned above is indicative and may increase or decrease at the absolute discretion of the establishment.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Regular student pursuing a full-time B.E / B.Tech degree (7th or 8th semester) or a full-time M.E / M.Tech degree (1st or 2nd year) in the relevant discipline from a recognised Indian university or institute |
| Institution | Only regular students from AICTE-approved technical institutions or UGC-approved universities are eligible to apply |
| Academic Record | Minimum 85% marks or 8.5 CGPA on a scale of 10, maintained continuously throughout all previous semesters |
| Backlogs | Students with backlogs are not eligible |
| Age Limit | Below 28 years as on 01.07.2026. The notification does not state any age relaxation for reserved categories. Check your age eligibility → |
| Nationality | The scheme is open to students of Indian nationality only |
| Other Stipend | Students already receiving any other stipend from any institute are not eligible for this internship programme |
| Equivalent Qualification | No equivalent qualification or related branch will be considered — only the disciplines listed in the vacancy tables above |
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 — Receipt and scrutiny of applications | Applications received by Speed Post / Courier / Registered Post within 10 days of publication are scrutinised. Late, incomplete or erroneous applications are summarily rejected and no communication is entertained in this regard. |
| Stage 2 — Merit-based shortlisting | Selection is entirely on merit. Candidates must have a good academic track record with 85% marks or more, or a CGPA of 8.5 or above on a scale of 10, maintained continuously in all previous semesters. There is no written test and no interview mentioned in the notification. |
| Stage 3 — Intimation to selected students | Shortlisted students are informed through their e-mail ID along with joining instructions. Candidates who are not selected will receive no communication. |
| Stage 4 — Joining formalities | Police verification must be submitted at the time of joining, if selected. A medical fitness certificate issued by an authorised medical practitioner holding at least an MBBS or BAMS degree is mandatory at the time of joining. |
| Stage 5 — Completion | A Certificate of Completion is awarded on successful completion of the 06-month internship, and students are expected to submit a project report of the work assigned to them. Students who do not complete the internship for any reason receive neither the certificate nor the stipend. |
Stipend and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monthly Stipend | Rs. 5,000 per month for a period of six months |
| Total Stipend | Rs. 30,000 over the full 06-month tenure |
| Payment Schedule | Paid in two slabs of 03 months each, Rs. 15,000 per slab, credited directly to the student’s bank account |
| Attendance Condition | To be paid the stipend, a student must complete at least 20 working days of internship training per month at CVRDE and maintain good academic performance |
| Certificate | Certificate of Completion awarded on successful completion of the internship training |
| Canteen | Students may use the CVRDE wet canteen facility for lunch and tea on a payment basis |
| Boarding and Lodging | Not admissible — no boarding, lodging or transport expenses are payable. Students must make their own arrangements. |
| Employment | CVRDE / DRDO has no obligation to offer employment to interns, and no intern can claim a right to employment on the basis of completing this internship |
How to Apply
- Download the advertisement and the enclosures (Appendix A, B and C) from the DRDO vacancies page at drdo.gov.in/drdo/en/offerings/vacancies.
- Fill the application form in Appendix A in capital letters, affix a recent passport-size photograph (4.5 x 3.5 cm), and complete the bank account details, contact numbers and the enclosure checklist.
- Get the request letter / No Objection Certificate in the Appendix B format printed on your college letterhead and signed by the Principal or Director of your institution with the office seal.
- Fill and sign the Appendix C undertaking relating to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923, and assemble all supporting documents listed in the section below.
- Send the complete application by Speed Post / Courier / Registered Post to: The Director (Kind Attention: PC and HR Division), Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, so that it reaches CVRDE on or before 18.09.2026.
- Clearly write “Application for Paid Internship” on top of the envelope, along with the “Branch Code No…..” you are applying under (ME, EC, EE or CS).
Note: Applications are accepted only by Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post at the above address. There is no online application portal for this internship, and late or incomplete applications will be summarily rejected.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Duly filled application form | Appendix ‘A’ of the notification, filled in capital letters |
| Recent passport-size photograph | 4.5 x 3.5 cm, affixed on the application form |
| Request letter / No Objection Certificate | Appendix ‘B’ format, printed on college letterhead and signed by the Principal or Director of the institution with office seal |
| Undertaking form | Duly filled Appendix ‘C’ — Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923 undertaking |
| Semester marksheets | Copy of all semesters’ marksheets, as applicable, reflecting the CGPA |
| Bonafide and Character Certificate | Issued by college authorities |
| Aadhaar Card | Copy of the latest / updated Aadhaar Card |
| College ID Card | Photocopy |
| Student biodata | Restricted to 300 words |
| Awards / Certificates | With proof, if any |
| Publications / Patents | With proof, if any |
| Bank account details | Account number, account holder name, bank name, branch name and IFSC code, entered in the application form — the stipend is credited directly to this account |
| Police verification | To be submitted at the time of joining, if selected |
| Medical fitness certificate | To be submitted at the time of joining, from an authorised medical practitioner holding at least an MBBS or BAMS degree |
Important Links
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website | DRDO Vacancies Portal |
| Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying online or by e-mail — this internship accepts applications only by Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post at the CVRDE Avadi address.
- Forgetting to write “Application for Paid Internship” and your Branch Code No. on top of the envelope, which the notification explicitly requires.
- Posting the application too late — it must physically reach CVRDE by 18.09.2026, so allow for postal transit time rather than dispatching on the last day.
- Applying with a CGPA below 8.5 or with any backlog — both make an application ineligible regardless of how strong the rest of it is.
- Sending the application without the Principal’s NOC on college letterhead in the Appendix ‘B’ format, which is a mandatory enclosure and cannot be replaced by a plain bonafide certificate.
- Applying while already receiving a stipend from another institute, which the notification states makes a student ineligible for this programme.
- Assuming an equivalent degree or a related branch will be accepted — only the exact disciplines listed under branch codes ME, EC, EE and CS are considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for the CVRDE DRDO Paid Internship 2026?
The application must reach CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai on or before 18.09.2026, which is 10 days from the notification’s publication date of 08.09.2026 on the DRDO website.
2. How many internship slots are available?
A total of 35 internship slots are available — 15 under Category (a) for under graduate students and 20 under Category (b) for post graduate students.
3. Who is eligible to apply for this internship?
Regular students in the 7th or 8th semester of B.E/B.Tech, or in the 1st or 2nd year of M.E/M.Tech, in Mechanical, Electronics/ECE/E and I, Electrical or Computer Science/AI/ML/IT, from an AICTE-approved institution or UGC-approved university.
4. What is the minimum CGPA required?
Candidates need 85% marks or a CGPA of 8.5 or above on a scale of 10, maintained continuously throughout all previous semesters, and students with backlogs are not eligible.
5. What is the age limit for the CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
Applicants must be below 28 years of age as on 01.07.2026, and the notification does not mention any age relaxation for reserved categories.
6. Is there any application fee?
No, the notification states that no fee is applicable at the time of application or at any stage of the entire internship programme.
7. How much stipend will interns receive and how is it paid?
Interns receive Rs. 5,000 per month for six months, paid in two slabs of three months each of Rs. 15,000, credited directly to the student’s bank account, subject to completing at least 20 working days of training per month.
8. Does this internship guarantee a job at DRDO or CVRDE?
No — the notification states that CVRDE and DRDO have no obligation to offer employment to interns, and no intern can claim a right to employment on the grounds of completing this internship.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
