Programme for Internship for LL.B./LL.M./Environmental Studies/Research Students (NGT)

What is the NGT internship programme?

The Programme for Internship for LL.B./LL.M./Environmental Studies/Research Students is an internship run by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the statutory body that hears environmental cases in India. According to the NGT, the programme offers college students the chance to intern with the Tribunal through Summer Internship Programmes (ordinarily March, April, May and July) and Winter Internship Programmes (ordinarily November, December and January).

The National Green Tribunal was set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. Its Principal Bench sits in New Delhi, with zonal benches elsewhere in the country. An internship here therefore exposes law and environmental-studies students to environmental adjudication rather than to executive or administrative work.

The internship is short and academic in nature: each intern is assigned a guide, carries out study on a selected topic, and submits a research paper or report for evaluation at the end. It is an unpaid learning placement, the Tribunal pays no remuneration. Because it is designed around a specific research topic and a four-week study window, it suits students who want a focused environmental-law research experience rather than a paid work placement.

Key features

• Duration of about 4 weeks ordinarily.
• Two cycles a year — Summer and Winter internship programmes.
• No remuneration or expenses paid.
• A certificate issued after evaluation of the research paper or work done.

Who is eligible for the NGT internship?

You can apply if:

• You are a student pursuing a three-year or five-year law degree course, or a course in environmental studies or environmental law, at any recognised college, law school or university in India.

You cannot apply if:

• You are pursuing an unrelated stream, for example, mechanical engineering or other non-law, non-environmental courses.
• You are not enrolled at a recognised Indian college, law school or university.

The maximum number of slots offered in any cycle is decided by the Competent Authority, so selection is limited and competitive.

What documents are required?

At the time of joining, you must produce a recommendation or no-objection letter from your Director or Head of Department. At completion, you must present a research paper or report on a selected topic and undertake any other studies assigned, submitting notes for evaluation.

How to apply for the NGT internship

1. Prepare your application in the prescribed format enclosed with the NGT internship notice.
2. Send it so that it reaches the NGT by 1 February for the Summer Internship Programme, or by 1 October for the Winter Internship Programme.
3. Submit it by post or by hand to the Registrar General, National Green Tribunal (Principal Bench), Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi - 110001, or email it to rg.ngt@nic.in.

Applications received after the last date, and incomplete applications, are not entertained, and no correspondence is entertained on late submissions. Because the number of slots each cycle is fixed by the Competent Authority and the window is short, it is worth applying well before the deadline and stating a clear area of environmental-law interest.

What benefits do interns receive?

• Certificate: Issued at the end of the internship after evaluation of the research paper or assessment of the work done.
• Guide: A guide is assigned to each intern for their study during the internship.
• Remuneration: None. The National Green Tribunal pays no remuneration or expenses, so this is an unpaid academic internship.

Help and contact

Applications and queries go to the Registrar General, National Green Tribunal (Principal Bench) at rg.ngt@nic.in, and scheme details and current notices appear on the official NGT portal greentribunal.gov.in. No separate helpline number is published for this internship; because it is unpaid, be wary of any third party charging a fee to arrange a place.