MWCD Internship programme 2026: Applications open for women students, teachers, social activists; check eligibility and key details

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has started the application process for its Internship Programme for the August-September 2026 session. Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official portal, wcd.intern.nic.in.

The programme is aimed at giving women an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of policy-making and government programmes related to the welfare and empowerment of women and children.

Women students, scholars, teachers and social activists from rural areas and non-tier 1 cities are eligible to apply for the internship, provided they meet the prescribed conditions.

Who can apply?

According to the eligibility criteria, applicants should be between 21 and 40 years of age and must be enrolled in or associated with a recognised university or academic institution.

The ministry has also clarified that candidates selected for one internship term will not be eligible to apply again in future sessions.

What will interns do?

The internship will run for two months, during which selected candidates will be attached to different divisions of the ministry.

Interns will get an opportunity to observe the functioning of government programmes and contribute to policy-related work. They may also undertake pilot projects or micro-studies linked to ongoing initiatives of the ministry.

Apart from this, participants may be involved in preparing policy briefs, conducting research and analysis, and studying issues related to women and child development.

Exposure to policy-making and governance

During the internship period, candidates will interact with officials of the Ministry of Women and Child Development as well as representatives from allied ministries and organisations working in the sector.

The programme is designed to help participants better understand policy implementation at the national level and encourage discussions on issues affecting women and children across different parts of the country.

Internship offered multiple times a year

MWCD conducts the internship programme four times annually through different cycles. These include:

• May session
• June session
• August-September session
• November-December session
• February-March session

The August-September 2026 cycle is currently open for applications.

Candidates interested in public policy, social development, research and women's empowerment can use the programme as an opportunity to gain practical exposure to government initiatives and administrative processes.

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