Ministry of External Affairs
[Administration Division]

***

MEA Internship Policy 2022

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to commemorate 75 years of independence, Ministry of External Affairs is launching the first edition of the MEA Internships Programme. The MEA Internship Policy 2022 aims to take foreign policy closer to the people; bring in more focus on MEA; provide value to the interns; ensure better gender inclusivity and increase diversity in terms of qualifications, domicile and socio-economic status amongst the cohort of interns engaged by the Ministry.

Eligibility

2. Internships at MEA headquarters shall generally be open to Indian citizens with a minimum educational qualification of a graduate degree from a recognized university at the time of Internships shall also be open to students who are presently in the final year of their graduation, where an internship is a mandatory part of their final year curriculum. Age of the candidates should not exceed 25 years as on 31 December of the year of internship.

Intake and duration

3. A total of 75 internships will be offered in the year 2022 in a single term of three months during April to June All selected interns will be required to join the Ministry on the same day in April 2022. Each intern will be engaged for a minimum period of one month and a maximum period of three months.

Diversity

4. In line with the goal of taking the Ministry and foreign policy closer to the people from all parts of the country, the policy aims to ensure increased diversity amongst the group of interns with respect to gender, underprivileged sections, geographical domicile and representation from both urban and rural Candidates from districts under the Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme (TADP) and those belonging to SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories shall be given priority at different stages in the selection process.

Selection

5. The selection process will be fully online at www.internship.mea.gov.in with applications, scrutiny, selection, allocation of Division, notification, extension and certification to be managed on a dedicated internship portal of the Ministry. Each candidate needs to register on the internship portal and obtain access credentials to participate in the process.

6. The selection process will consist of two stages Preliminary Screening and Personal Interview. The process will follow a ‘quota cum weightage’ system whereby applicants belonging to all 28 States and 8 Union Territories will be considered. There may be 2 interns from each of the 28 States; 2 interns from each of the 8 Union Territories and 3 more interns with maximum marks from TADP districts / underprivileged sections of the society. A minimum of 30% of the 75 internships may be filled by women candidates. Weightage will be based on academic performance assessed by percentage of marks obtained in +2 and graduation exams.

7. Candidates should apply online State-wise merit lists will be prepared – separately for male and female candidates – by elimination based on academic performance in +2 and graduation exams. Priority will be given to applicants from TADP districts during the Preliminary Screening stage and to applicants belonging to SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories in the Personal Interview stage.

8. The total number of candidates called for interview will be three times the interns to be engaged in each Candidates selected in the merit lists will be called for personal interview to be conducted by videoconferencing. A maximum of 75 candidates will be selected from the interview process and offered internships. If any selected candidate opts out, the next candidate in the merit list from the individual state will be offered opportunity.

9. During the course of the internship, the selected candidates would be introduced to various aspects of the functioning of the Ministry, its attached offices, the public interface of the Ministry and its role in helping the Indian citizens, as well as a possible visit to one of the Missions abroad, subject to prevailing

Honorarium and air fare

10. An honorarium of INR 10,000 per month will be paid to each intern to defray basic Cost of one-time to and fro air travel subject to a ceiling of the prevailing economy class air fare between the State capital and Delhi, from the domicile State or from the college / university of the selected candidates will be provided. The interns would be responsible for their board and lodging in Delhi during the period of their internship.

Obligations of the intern

11. The internship programme provides an introduction to the process of formulation of foreign policy and its implementation by the Government of Interns will be assigned specific topics of work by the concerned Head of Division (HOD) and may be required to conduct research, write reports, analyze evolving developments or carry out any other task entrusted to them by the HOD.

12. At the end of the internship, each intern shall submit a detailed report on the work carried out and, if required, make a presentation on The outcome of study during the internship will remain as intellectual property of the Ministry of External Affairs and interns shall not use it without prior approval of the Ministry. The intern shall maintain full confidentiality of any information relating to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Termination of internship

13. Selection to the internship programme at the Ministry of External Affairs is strictly subject to necessary security The Ministry may terminate the engagement of an intern at any point in time as it deems fit, without giving any reason. Decision of the Ministry shall be final in this regard. An intern can choose to terminate the internship giving prior notice of one week to the Ministry.