Forest and Climate Change Internship Scheme (MoEFCC)

What is the Forest and Climate Change Internship Scheme?

The Forest and Climate Change Internship Scheme is a short-term internship programme run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. According to the Ministry, the scheme offers students, research scholars and graduates or postgraduates from recognised institutions in India and abroad a chance to work inside the Ministry's divisions, regional offices, autonomous organisations, subordinate offices and ENVIS centres across the country.

The purpose is to give interns direct exposure to how the Government functions on environmental policy, forests and climate regulation, while letting them contribute through research, analysis and policy-related inputs. It is a learning and training placement, not a recruitment channel and not a promise of a job in the Ministry.

Key features

• Stipend of Rs 10,000 per month during the internship.
• Internship period of not more than 3 months.
• Conducted twice a year. A Summer Internship and a Winter Internship.
• Applications accepted online, once per financial year per candidate.

Who is eligible for the MoEFCC internship?

You can apply if:

• You are pursuing graduation, post-graduation or research work at a recognised university or institute, whether in India or abroad.
• You can arrange a letter from your supervisor, head of department or principal confirming your status in the institution, and a No Objection Certificate.

Preference: Students pursuing MSc or PGDM from the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) are given preference in selection.

You cannot apply if:

• You have already completed an internship in this Ministry in any discipline; repeat applications are not entertained.
• You have already applied or interned once in the same financial year, as each candidate can apply only once during a financial year.

The Ministry also reserves the right, depending on the number of applications in a particular domain, to fix additional eligibility criteria, limit the number of applicants called for a period, and decide the mode of screening.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Forest and Climate Change internship

1. During an open session, visit the Ministry's internship portal (linked from moef.gov.in under the Internship Scheme section) and click Apply Online.
2. Fill in the online application form with the mandatory fields — name, date of birth, address, e-mail, mobile number, area of interest, educational qualification, present course, employment and experience details, and any other relevant information.
3. Upload your photograph and the required documents (self-attested where needed) in the prescribed file type and size.
4. Click Submit to lodge the application.

After submission, all applications are forwarded to the concerned Heads of Verticals, Units or Divisions in the Ministry and its formations. Each Divisional Head forms an Internal Scrutiny Committee of subject experts, which selects interns on a merit basis. The names of selected candidates are sent to the Administration through the portal, and the final list is displayed on the Ministry's website.

What benefits do interns receive?

• Stipend: Rs 10,000 per month. No stipend is paid if the intern leaves before completing one month; for longer periods the stipend is paid proportionately. Absence beyond 3 days in a month causes a proportionate deduction for the excess days.
• Experience certificate: Issued by the Divisional Head on successful completion, in the format prescribed in the scheme's annexure. Interns who do not complete the required period receive no certificate.
• Logistics: The Ministry provides working space, internet and other facilities as decided by the Head of Division. Interns must bring their own laptops and arrange their own boarding, lodging, transport and stationery.

Sessions and schedule

The internship runs in two sessions each financial year, a Summer Internship and a Winter Internship. The exact application window and joining schedule for each session are published on the Ministry's website when the session opens; for example, the summer 2026 nomination window was announced on the MoEFCC site. Because the programme is small and session-based, watch the Internship Scheme page on moef.gov.in for the current notice rather than assuming fixed dates.

Help and contact

Queries about an open session and the application portal should be directed through the contact details published with each session's notice on moef.gov.in. No standalone national helpline number is published for this internship scheme, so avoid any third-party number claiming to register you for a fee. The online application is free and made directly to the Ministry.