Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Internship Scheme

What is the IWAI Internship Scheme?

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Internship Scheme is an internship programme run by IWAI, the statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways responsible for developing India's national waterways. According to the scheme, it gives students exposure to the development of Inland Waterways Transport in India, letting them understand IWAI's functioning and contribute through research, analysis and report preparation.

IWAI was constituted under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 and is responsible for the development and regulation of India's National Waterways for shipping and navigation. An internship here exposes students to inland water transport policy, project development and the technical and regulatory work of building waterway infrastructure, and interns are attached to a division according to the area of interest they indicate in their application.

The scheme is clear that the internship is neither a job nor any assurance of a job in IWAI. Interns are given working space but must use their own laptops, submit a report and furnish a declaration of secrecy during the internship. The structure of the placement, attendance-linked stipend, a required report, and a one-month termination clause for poor performance — makes it a formal research placement rather than an informal one.

Key features

• Stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for undergraduates and Rs 20,000 per month for postgraduate and research interns.
• Annual intake of 10 undergraduate and 15 postgraduate/research interns.
• Application made offline to IWAI's head office in Noida.
• Completion certificate issued after evaluation of the intern's report.

Who is eligible for the IWAI internship?

You can apply if you meet any of these conditions:

• You are pursuing or have completed a graduate or postgraduate degree from a recognised university, national or international.
• As a graduate applicant, you secured at least 75% marks in Class 12.
• As a postgraduate applicant, you secured at least 60% marks in graduation.
• As a research scholar, you secured at least 60% marks in the postgraduate degree.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not meet the relevant minimum-marks threshold for your category.
• You are not enrolled in, or a graduate of, a recognised university.

Because the total intake is capped at 25 interns a year across categories, selection is competitive and depends on the area of interest and IWAI's requirement.

What documents are required?

At completion, interns must submit a report or paper on the allotted subject and provide mandatory feedback to the concerned Head of Department.

How to apply for the IWAI internship

1. Fill the application form in the Annexure-A format prescribed in the official scheme bulletin.
2. Enclose your Curriculum Vitae and clearly indicate your area of interest.
3. Send the application by post or by hand to The Secretary, Inland Waterways Authority of India, A-13, Sector-1, Noida-201301.

Applications are then scrutinised and interns selected against the available undergraduate and postgraduate slots.

What benefits do interns receive?

• Remuneration: Rs 10,000 per month for undergraduates and Rs 20,000 per month for postgraduate and research scholars, payable on satisfactory completion. The amount is proportional to days of attendance against total working days, and the final month's remuneration is released after the report or paper is submitted.
• Experience certificate: Issued by IWAI in the prescribed format on submission and evaluation of the report by Director-level officers. Interns who do not complete the required period receive no certificate.
• Working conditions: IWAI provides working space but no accommodation, and interns use their own laptops. The internship may be terminated with one month's notice if performance is not up to the mark.

Help and contact

Applications and queries go to The Secretary, Inland Waterways Authority of India, A-13, Sector-1, Noida-201301, and scheme details are on the official portal iwai.nic.in. No separate national helpline number is published for this internship, so rely on the official address and portal.