National Renewable Energy Internship (NREI) Scheme

What is the National Renewable Energy Internship (NREI) Scheme?

The National Renewable Energy Internship (NREI) Scheme is an internship programme run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. According to the Ministry, it gives students pursuing undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degrees, and research scholars enrolled in recognised institutes or universities in India or abroad, the chance to intern with MNRE and organisations under its aegis.

The aim is to let interns understand the Ministry's functioning, its renewable energy programmes and policy, and contribute practical inputs; analysis, technical reports, project reports and policy papers. Interns are attached to senior-level officers in the Ministry's various Programme Divisions. The scheme also allows people already engaged in renewable energy policy, research, promotion, demonstration and deployment projects to intern in the Ministry.

Key features

• Stipend of Rs 15,000 per month for physical internships (no stipend for virtual internships).
• Duration of two to six months, offered twice a year.
• A maximum of 20 interns per year.
• Applications accepted online only, preferably in July and January.

Who is eligible for the NREI Scheme?

You can apply if:

• You are pursuing a graduate or post-graduate degree in engineering, management, law, a science stream, or renewable energy at a recognised university or institution in India or abroad; or
• You are working in the renewable energy area in a national, international or non-governmental institute or organisation.

The Ministry may relax any of these conditions for a deserving candidate.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a school student or otherwise do not meet the graduate, post-graduate, research-scholar or renewable-energy-professional criteria.
• You have already interned under the scheme; no intern may repeat or extend the internship.

Selection is competitive: all applications are scrutinised by a Selection Committee, and offers depend on the availability of slots and the consent of the concerned division. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an offer.

What documents are required?

Selected candidates must produce original mark sheets and the institution's NOC at the time of joining, failing which their candidature is cancelled. Interns must also furnish a Declaration of Secrecy before reporting.

How to apply for the NREI Scheme

1. During an open half-yearly cycle, visit the official MNRE website (mnre.gov.in) and open the online internship application form.
2. Fill in all the mandatory fields and clearly indicate your area of interest — MNRE's thrust research areas and programme areas are listed on the website.
3. Upload the required documents (self-attested where needed) in the specified file size and format.
4. Click Submit and note down the Application ID for future reference.

Apply at least one month before your expected joining date and not more than 3 months in advance. All applications are scrutinised by the Selection Committee, and the HRD Division uploads the list of selected candidates on the MNRE website.

What benefits do interns receive?

• Stipend: Rs 15,000 per month for physical internships. No stipend is paid for virtual internships.
• Certificate of internship: Issued on satisfactory completion and evaluation of the intern's report or paper.
• Logistic support: MNRE provides internet facilities and other necessities for physical internships. Interns must bring their own laptops and arrange their own lodging and boarding.

Help and contact

Applications and queries are handled directly through the MNRE website during an open cycle. No standalone national helpline number is published specifically for the NREI Scheme, so rely on the official mnre.gov.in portal and avoid any third-party service claiming paid registration: applying is free.