Summer Internship Programme (PRL)

What is the PRL Summer Internship Programme?

The Summer Internship Programme is a short research attachment run by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, a unit of the Department of Space within the science ecosystem under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It gives bright science students a supervised taste of front-line research in areas such as astronomy and astrophysics, planetary and space science, atmospheric science, geosciences, and atomic, molecular and optical physics.

According to the PRL portal, the programme places selected students with a PRL scientist for about two months over the summer to work on a defined project. The value of the internship is the mentorship and hands-on exposure to a national research laboratory, it is explicitly not a paid position. PRL states that "the interns are not eligible for any stipend / remuneration / financial assistance." Limited paid hostel accommodation is offered at around Rs 120 per day on a first-come basis.

Key features

• Duration of about two months in summer (11 May to 10 July in 2026).
• No stipend. The benefit is research training and mentorship.
• A PRL supervisor takes a maximum of two students.
• Preference to KVPY and DST INSPIRE fellows.

Who is eligible for the Summer Internship Programme?

Students can apply if:

• They are Indian citizens pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a recognised Indian institution.
• They have a minimum 60% aggregate or a 6.32 CGPA on a 10-point scale.
• They study a relevant discipline; optics, laser physics, space physics, geology, geophysics, atmospheric science, chemistry or a related field.

Preference is given to KVPY and DST INSPIRE fellows.

Teachers can also apply if they hold a PhD, have five or more years of experience teaching at graduate or postgraduate level, and can demonstrate a research interest through publications or projects.

You cannot apply if:

• You are not an Indian student enrolled at a recognised Indian institution.
• Your aggregate is below 60% or your CGPA is below 6.32.
• Your field is unrelated to PRL's research areas, or you cannot secure a PRL supervisor willing to take you — supervisor consent is a precondition, not a formality.

What benefit does the internship give?

The Summer Internship Programme provides research experience and mentorship, not money. Interns are not eligible for any stipend, remuneration or financial assistance. Those who need to stay in Ahmedabad can take limited paid hostel accommodation at around Rs 120 per day, allotted on a first-come basis. The lasting benefit is the exposure to research methods, instrumentation and scientists at a leading national laboratory, and a project that can strengthen later applications for PhD programmes and fellowships.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Summer Internship Programme

1. Browse the project list published on the Summer Internship page at prl.res.in and shortlist a project that matches your discipline and interest.
2. Contact the project supervisor by email for approval. A supervisor takes a maximum of two students, so approach early.
3. Complete the online application form on the PRL website within the announced window (applications for the 2026 programme closed in April).
4. Attach the required documents, your latest mark sheet, a faculty recommendation letter, the undertaking form and the supervisor's consent.
5. Submit and await confirmation from PRL; selected interns are informed of the reporting date and, if requested, hostel accommodation.

Help and where to check

• PRL, Ahmedabad: the laboratory's board line is 079-26314000; specific queries go to the contact listed on the Summer Internship page.
• Dates shift every year, so confirm the current internship window and application deadline on the official PRL page before planning. Because the programme carries no stipend and depends on a supervisor's willingness to mentor you, securing supervisor consent early matters more than anything else.